Terri’s Fight Not Over Yet, Protestors Say
Protests for Terri Schiavo’s life continued as a federal judge on Tuesday refused to reinsert the 41-year-old disabled woman’s feeding tube that has kept her alive for 15 years.
After reviewing the case for a day, U.S. District Judge James Whittemore said Terri’s parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, had not established a “substantial likelihood of success” at trial on the merits of their arguments, and denied an emergency request backed by Congress and the White House to stop her from being starved.
Protestors, many who traveled from as far as California, criticized the ruling as “cruel” and “barbaric”.
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"It's terrible. They're going to talk and talk and she's going to die," said Miriam Zlotolow, 59, of Venice, Calif, to the Associated Press.
Planners of the pro-life rallies said Whittemore’s ruling was especially crushing because he stalled his decision for a full day, giving the Schindlers less time to appeal.
“What makes his decision even more troubling is the fact that he waited over 24 hours to issue it while a young woman is being starved to death,” said Rev. Patrick Mahoney, president of the Christian Defense Coalition. “If Judge Whittemore had any integrity, he would have released his decision yesterday morning to allow the Schiavo legal team adequate time for the appeal process. Once again, our nation has to face the sting of an arrogant and activist federal judiciary."
The Schindlers’ lawyers immediately filed an appeal to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta to "save Terri's life." The court was already considering an appeal on whether Terri Schiavo's right to due process had been violated.
Meanwhile, Randall Terry, president of the Society for Truth and Justice, whom the Schindlers personally asked to help them in their fight, asked Terri-supporters to come to Tallahassee to “generate support for the passage of state legislation” that may lave Terri’s life.
"We are begging the Florida Senate during this holy Easter season; have mercy on Terri,” said Randall Terry.
Tuesday marked the fifth day since Terri’s tube was removed.
The following is the schedule of events planned for the day:
7 AM - 8 AM: On the corner of Madison & Monroe--Terri's supporters plead with Senators as they arrive
8 AM: With Democratic Caucus
9 AM - noon: On the 4th floor of the Capitol, outside the Senate Chamber--Signs used to plead for Terri
10 AM: at Capitol Plaza--Press Conference with Randall Terry to update on latest developments in the fight to save Terri Schiavo's life
2 PM: at Capitol Plaza--Press Conference with Dr. William Hammesfahr. Dr. Hammesfahr, nominated for a Nobel Prize for his work in medicine, has been recognized by agents for Medicare, the federal government, and others for new approaches to helping the brain injured. Dr. Hammesfahr has examined Terri Schiavo three separate times for a total of over ten hours.
