Thank you for all your hard work ! It has paid off. There is still more work to do.
God has been very gracious. We needed to get 89,285 signatures to put the Mississippi Personhood Amendment on the 2011 ballot. Last week we turned in 105,167 certified ! We got a total of 130,000+ signatures and still have some coming in the mail ! Once we get these certified, it will break a record for the most signatures ever on a initiative in Mississippi.
We started out with four families in NE Miss and no money. While we only raised & spent $11,000, God blessed us with a truly grass roots victory — over 1000 churches & 2000 volunteers from Corinth to the Coast & from the Delta to the Piney Woods helped ! Not only did we garner enough signatures, but we reached out to thousands of Mississippians with the love of Christ in practical ways.
Soli Deo Gloria !!!

Go here to see a video from the turn-in:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmmKeegmY3M

The Sec of State’s office still has much work to do, but Sec Hosemann has already been publicly proclaiming that we will be on the ballot in 2011!
We have much work to do as well. We will keep you posted as to how you can help make sure that all human beings are protected in law & in love. With God’s help we will not only change our law, but our culture as well. Not only ensure equal rights to all people and restore Constitutional governance but protect and help the women exploited and harmed by the abortion culture.

One thing that we must do is “pray without ceasing” — thanking God for the victories thus far and setting up pray teams that will cover our work with prayer.
Because of our victories, anti-Personhood forces will be hard at work too.
Throughout history, any time that a society or law system sought to deny rights and eventually to brutalize a segment of the population, the first step is to de-humanize them. Then, when people who seek justice & mercy speak up for those denied rights, those dehumanizing or those who preferred the status quo will resort to desperate or ridiculous measures.

The grasping for ways to silence the voices of 130,000+ Mississippians and continue the killing of the unborn and exploitation of women has already begun.
After the signature turn in, a couple of small web sites, anti-personhood forces (from radical pro aborts to defenders of the status quo ), who obviously have not done their legal research, came up with the notion that the Mississippi Personhood Amendment violates Section 273(5)a of the MS Constitution’s Initiative Amendment Process, which states:
(5) The initiative process shall not be used:
(a) For the proposal, modification or repeal of any portion of the Bill of Rights of this Constitution;”

Before the language of the Mississippi Personhood Amendment was submitted to the Sec of State & Attorney General several years of not only prayer, but research and consulting were performed.
Our legal team is led by Steve Crampton, a Constitutional attorney from Liberty Counsel with 20 years experience. Steve and Liberty Counsel — unlike the anti-Personhood forces — has litigated literally hundreds of Constitutional cases in state & federal court over the last two plus decades and has researched thousands more.
To clarify for sloppy rushing through the statues seeking a “silver bullet” to stop Personhood, silence 130,000 Mississippians, and continue the status quo of exploiting women & killing children Steve Crampton pointed out :
“ A mere definition does not rise to the level of a modification. What the prohibition addresses is substantive change to the basic rights set forth in the Bill of Rights.
To simply define “person,” a term that already appears in the law but for which no formal definition has been rendered, merely clarifies its meaning; it does not repeal or modify any existing rights in that Bill of Rights, and it does not propose the addition of any new rights. Therefore it is a proper amendment.”
Steve further cited Black’s Law Dictionary, which is the go-to dictionary in the legal realm, defines “amend” as

“[t]o change the wording of; specif., to formally alter (a statute, constitution, motion, etc.) by striking out, inserting or substituting words”).
Obviously, by this standard, we are not in any way “amending” the Bill of Rights. We do not strike out, insert, or substitute any words, or formally alter the current Bill of Rights in any way.
We can be sure that this poorly researched “bill of rights” charge will be the first of many desperate attempts by anti-personhood, pro-death/ pro-status quo forces to derail our efforts — because the truth we stand for is too difficult to face head on

Again, thank you for your hard work & willingness to be used by God in winning the first battle. Please pray and we will keep you informed as to what the next step is.

Les Riley

Determined To Save The Soul Of The Nation
 Across the country, groundswells of Personhood efforts have already altered the focus of the pro-life movement, and over the President’s Day weekend, those efforts were realized. 
In two key states, we gathered enough signatures to put “Personhood” on the ballot. This Personhood Movement and the initiatives it has produced have only one goal: To restore God given dignity to every human person.
I had the honor of attending victory rallies for Personhood in both Mississippi and Colorado. The fervent energy that burns in the hearts of the valiant advocates of Personhood was an encouragement that almost defies description!  Although the rallies were held over one thousand miles apart, both possessed the same purpose that can only be present when Christians band together and sacrifice their time, talent and energy for the love and protection of their neighbors.
Following the examples of heroes like Rosa Parks and William Wilberforce, Colorado volunteers collected nearly 80,000 signatures to place the “Personhood Amendment” on the ballot for a second consecutive election. And this historic achievement was the result of the sweat and labor of purely grassroots volunteers.  Just a few days later and with tears of joy, faithful volunteers delivered over 130,000 signatures to Mississippi’s Secretary of State, affirming the God-given right to life of all people.  The boxes of dog eared petitions were carried into the office of the Secretary of State by mothers, daughters, fathers and sons, and most notably Mississippi’s Lt. Governor, and front-running 2011 gubernatorial candidate Phil Bryant!
We cannot know the exact effects these amendments will bring. But it is certain here and now that we have won major victories.  Volunteers gathered over 200,000 signatures in two states. 2,500 churches opened their doors to the Personhood Movement.  We boldly proclaimed  to hundreds of thousands of people that all human life is sacred: asking and answering the provocative question:  “When should human rights begin?”. While these are all victories in their own right —and are undeniable evidence of the power of this movement — there remains a larger accomplishment that I believe will prove most indelible upon the soul of the nation.
That victory, (and I believe the most significant fruit of the Personhood Movement) is the determination now manifest in the hearts of the thousands of volunteers who are making Personhood a reality. I felt its power lift my spirit with the strength of a three-fold cord at the victory rallies. Recognizing themselves in the tiniest among us, these Christians are engaging the culture around them and selflessly giving of their time, talents and money to affirm the God-given right of Personhood for all children including the pre-born.
Undaunted by anti-personhood naysayers, these volunteers have committed their hearts, and their hands to turn back the perpetration of the most diabolical crime ever committed; a crime that includes the dehumanization and murder of an entire class of citizens. It is this determination, built upon the firm pillars of science, religion, and the common conscience of all humanity that will bring victory over the injustice of abortion. We are witnessing the emerging dominance of the most significant human rights movement of our lifetime because Christians are engaging the culture with Personhood. And the culture is responding!
I’m overwhelmed to think of the hundreds of thousands of people reached with the message of Personhood by this young and growing army of dedicated volunteers.  And with the increasing momentum of the Personhood argument comes ever more Personhood volunteers determined to communicate to millions the truth that every human is a person and should be protected by love and by law.  Such determination is the real victory. And while, like the future effects of the law establishing Personhood, its ultimate impact remains to be fully revealed, this victory has convinced me that dignity shall be restored to all humans.  Praise God!
Keith Mason
Co Founder – Personhood USA
Personhood USA is a grassroots, Christian organization founded to establish personhood efforts across America to create protection for every child by love and by law. Personhood USA is committed to assisting and supporting Personhood Legislation and Constitutional Amendments and building local pro-life organizations through raising awareness of the personhood of the pre-born.

Mississippi Pro-Life Group Affirms Preborn Personhood Rights; Exceeds State Signature Requirements
Jackson, MS / February 17 – Personhood Mississippi, a citizen-led grassroots organization, submitted over 130,000 signatures late yesterday, becoming the fourth ballot initiative since 1992 to fulfill the requirement of 89,285 voter signatures – 17,857 per Congressional district.

The signatures were collected in order to put a Personhood amendment on the ballot, affirming the personhood rights of all humans.

105,000 of the submitted signatures were certified as valid by 82 different County Circuit Clerks.
The abundance of signatures broke the state record for signatures in every other initiative in Mississippi history.

Comprised of all volunteers, Personhood Mississippi laid claim to over 2,000 volunteers and over 1,000 churches.

Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant was present at yesterday’s press conference, helping to turn in the boxes of completed petitions.

“Despite the superfluous restrictions set before us, the people of Mississippi have spoken. With God’s blessing we have made history and exceeded the signature requirement by tens of thousands,” stated Les Riley, sponsor of the Mississippi Personhood Amendment. “In the next few days, we fully expect Secretary of State Dilbert Hosemann to approve our amendment, as we have exceeded all requirements by the State of Mississippi.”

Once each district’s signatures are verified, the amendment will be placed on the November 2011 ballot.

More Information:
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100217/NEWS/2170370/1001/news

http://www.iandrinstitute.org/Mississippi.htm

www.personhoodmississippi.com

Personhood Mississippi is a statewide grassroots organization of concerned citizens who value human life. Personhood Mississippi is sponsoring the Personhood Amendment to the Mississippi constitution, stating “Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Mississippi: SECTION 1. Article III of the constitution of the state of Mississippi is hearby amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION TO READ: Section 33. Person defined. As used in this Article III of the state constitution, “The term ‘person’ or ‘persons’ shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof.” This initiative shall not require any additional revenue for implementation.”

Personhood Mississippi to Hold Press Conference and Victory Rally with Lieutenant Gov. Phil Bryant.

JACKSON / Christian Newswire / February 15 – Personhood Mississippi is holding a press conference to announce the number of signatures collected for the personhood amendment, followed by a victory rally to submit the gathered signatures. With the help of over 2,000 volunteers and nearly 1,000 churches, Personhood Mississippi is expected to present well over the number of 89,285 required by the Secretary of State’s Office.

“February 16 will be an historic day for the state of Mississippi,” affirmed Personhood Amendment sponsor Les Riley. “The people of Mississippi have made a clear statement with their signatures – it is time that all humans are valued as people, not as property.”

Personhood Mississippi encountered a complication when it appeared that the County Circuit Clerk was discounting valid signatures due to time constraints, necessitating a lawsuit to ensure that every voter’s signature was certified. The Personhood Amendment signature campaign is awaiting a ruling on the first phase of the legal challenge, yet due to a State of Emergency in Mississippi and time needed to review the case, Personhood Mississippi is allowed to submit the signatures Tuesday, February 16.

Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant, who assisted the campaign, will be in attendance as Personhood Mississippi submits signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office.  

Press Conference Details:
WHO: Personhood Mississippi with Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant
WHAT: Announcement regarding signature count and victory rally
WHERE: 401 Mississippi Street, Jackson, MS
WHEN: Tuesday, February 16, 2010, at 4:00pm

For More Information Call:
Les Riley 662-760-8695

Personhood Mississippi is a statewide grassroots organization of concerned citizens who value human life. Personhood Mississippi is sponsoring the Personhood Amendment to the Mississippi constitution, stating “Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Mississippi: SECTION 1. Article III of the constitution of the state of Mississippi is hearby amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION TO READ: Section 33. Person defined. As used in this Article III of the state constitution, “The term ‘person’ or ‘persons’ shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof.” This initiative shall not require any additional revenue for implementation.”
www.personhoodmississippi.com

For those who haven’t seen it, on the front page of the Sunday edition of Mississippi’s largest newspaper is an article about Personhood & Lt Gov Phil Bryant’s support

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100117/NEWS/1170347/1001

As an update, we still need help from pro-life Christians, families, churches, and organizations in the Delta, Southwest Miss, the Coast, & Metro Jackson. IF you want to see unborn children be given equal rights and unconstitutional court decisions challenged, please contact us & get involved

LESS THAN ONE MONTH LEFT — Pray hard, work hard. If your church has not gotten involved, have them do so. If they have, contact other churches in your area.

Finally, as a reminder, we want to encourage all pro-life Mississippi Christians to get involved — not only with our efforts, but with pouring their lives into the “true religion” (James 1:27) of caring for widows & orphans.
Many of the folks who have been involved in our petitioning efforts have also adopted and/or fostered children; worked at Crisis Pregnancy Centers to offer real “choice” & the love of Christ to mothers in trouble; been involved with sidewalk counseling/ Gospel witness at the abortion mill; and done much more. We encourage you to do the same.
If you want to get involved in anyway with organizations that can help you do these sorts of things, drop us an e-mail or give us a call & we can help put you in touch with them.

“Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens [is] the LORD’S thy God, the earth [also], with all that therein [is]. Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, [even] you above all people, as [it is] this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. For the LORD your God [is] God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward. He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. “ – Duet, 10:15-19

LESS THAN ONE MONTH LEFT — Pray hard, work hard. If your church has not gotten involved, have them do so. If they have, contact other churches in your area.