600 attend Rally as Mayor Amicone declares Respect Life Week in Yonkers

 
For the third year in a row, Mayor Phil Amicone of Yonkers has declared a "Respect Life Week".

Here is the first Respect Life Week declaration, in January of 2008 held on the steps of City Hall, with over 100 people attending.

In a mere three years, the event has grown incredibly, with live coverage on Cable News Channel 12, as well as this very fine news feature: Journal News covers City of Yonkers kick-off of their Respect Life Week  which everyone should read.

Approximately 600 attended the Sunday, January 24th event, at the Polish Center on Yonkers Ave. It was hosted by the Advocates of Life, headed by Tony Felicissimo. The speakers included the Mayor, new County Executive Rob Astorino, Democratic State Senator the Reverend Ruben Diaz, Theresa Bonopartis of the post-abortion healing ministry Lumina, and Rabbi Rigoberto Emmanuel Vinas of the Lincoln Park Jewish Center in Yonkers.

Mayor Amicone and State Senator Diaz before the event started

What it's all about -

 
 

 

St. Casimir Grammar School entertained with some wonderful music

 

Senator Diaz spoke powerfully about not being afraid to articulate your values in public, and was honored by the Mayor

 

And more speakers including -

County Executive Rob Astorino, here being honored by Tony Felicissimo

Theresa Bonopartis

And the final major speaker, Rabbi Vinas, who spoke beautifully

 There were about a dozen different prolife groups with booths at the Rally - here is Dr. Anne Mielnik of Gianna, the newly opened Catholic Healthcare Center for Women in Manhattan.

 

A wonderful, wonderful, event. Kudos to all involved - it required a tremendous amount of time and effort on the part of many people. But very worthwhile.

We hope to post video of several of the speakers in the next few days.

Comments

[Elizabeth Rex]

Kudos also to the Hudson Valley Coalition for Life for once again documenting this truly outstanding annual event in Yonkers. I look forward to your videos of some of the excellent speakers. Let's send this informative article to our family, friends and colleagues. Perhaps this important event will catch on elsewhere in other major cities in New York State... and around the Nation!

[Joy Dechiario]

What a wonderful event! So
sorry we were away and could not attend. Your coverage is always exceptional as is the work
of Richard and Marie Brand and their "behind the scenes" efforts. Mayor Amicone deserves much praise. God bless you all. Joy and Joe