Contact: Kristan Hawkins, Students for Life of America, 240-678-9620

CHARLESTON, W.Va., April 1, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today, Tuesday, April 1st, Students for Life of America President, Kristan Hawkins, will be joining West Virginians for Life and the Susan B. Anthony List to denounce Governor Tomblin's veto of HB 4588, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, and call on Senator Joe Manchin to co-sponsor the federal Pain-Capable bill at a 2:00pm press conference in the lower rotunda of the Capitol.

After the press conference, pro-life activists from West Virginia will be gathering outside of the Governor's Mansion for a 8:00pm Prayer Vigil. Those attending have been asked to bring preemie diapers to show support for the viable babies at risk for abortion because of the Governor's veto.

Despite passing with 80% support from both the West Virginia House and Senate, Governor Tomblin vetoed the late-term abortion ban last Friday night and aligned himself with a small minority of Americans who believe abortion should be legal in all 9 months of pregnancy, for any reason.

Kristan Hawkins, SFLA President, remarked, "Governor Tomblin's veto of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act was a cowardly and outrageous act, which will allow hideous late-term abortions to continue in my home state of West Virginia. By vetoing this bill, the Governor has placed himself in the minority, aligning his abortion views with those who believe that abortion should be legal in all nine months of pregnancy, for any reason. The majority of Americans and West Virginians stand against this human rights abuse of dismembering and killing babies who are capable of feeling extreme pain. 

"This bill has passed in 10 other states and even the U.S. House of Representatives - none of which considered the bill to be unconstitutional, as the Governor claimed. I believe this was the plan of the Democratic Leadership in West Virginia all along, to allow the bill to pass so their vulnerable Democrat members could vote pro-life before an important election and then have lame-duck Governor veto the bill. That's not leadership, and it's certainly not what the citizens of West Virginia voted for.

"It's time for United States Senator Manchin to lead his state and co-sponsor the federal Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act."

Students for Life of America is dedicated to abolishing abortion in this lifetime. SFLA is the nation's largest pro-life youth organization, working with more than 800 student groups in high schools and colleges across America.