Pro-Life Activists to Carol Outside Fairbanks Abortion Clinic on Christmas Eve Eve

On December 10, 2025, at 1 p.m. and again at 4 p.m., a quiet but determined group of pro-life advocates will gather outside the Planned Parenthood Fairbanks Health Center at 1867 Airport Way in Fairbanks, Alaska — not with signs or shouts, but with carols. Organized by Pamela Samash, president of Right To Life – Interior Alaska, the two-hour events aim to transform what organizers call "one of the darkest places in Fairbanks" into a space of warmth, light, and hope — using the familiar melodies of Christmas to speak to a deeply polarized issue.

A Silent Protest With a Loud Message

This isn’t the first time Right To Life – Interior Alaska has taken to the streets. But this year, they’ve chosen a different tactic. Instead of graphic imagery or confrontational slogans, they’re handing out song sheets and asking participants to bring candles or flashlights. The timing is deliberate: December 10 falls just days before Christmas, when the theme of birth and new life is central to the season. "The birth of Jesus Christ brings hope and life into the world," reads one promotional message from the group. "Come join us to celebrate His love for us together." Fairbanks in early December is unforgiving. Average temperatures hover between -10°F and 10°F. Sunset comes around 2:30 p.m. Alaska Standard Time. The 4 p.m. session will take place in near-total darkness — making the glow of candles and flashlights not just practical, but symbolic. In a city where winter nights stretch long and cold, the flickering lights become a quiet metaphor: life persisting against the odds.

A Nationwide Pattern, Localized in Alaska

The Fairbanks event is not an isolated act. It’s part of a coordinated national campaign, confirmed by CatholicVote.org and echoed in the Alaska Watchman’s November 28, 2025 report. Similar caroling events have been planned in at least 12 other states, from Ohio to Oregon, timed to coincide with the Christmas season. The strategy reflects a broader shift in anti-abortion activism: away from aggressive confrontation and toward emotionally resonant, faith-based outreach.

In February 2025, a group called Created Equal held a protest at the University of Kentucky that featured graphic images of fetal tissue — a tactic that drew both support and condemnation. By contrast, the Fairbanks event leans into compassion. It doesn’t seek to shame. It seeks to soothe. "We’re offering life-giving hope to women who are considering an abortion during the holiday season," Samash told the Alaska Watchman. The message is simple: you’re not alone. There’s another way.

Community Reactions and Unanswered Questions

The Alaska Watchman’s article drew four reader comments. One praised the activists: "Thank God for courageous people and the purpose of the life work they are committed too!" Another wished them "Merry Christmas." A third, likely spam, promoted a website called "EarnApp1.Com." And then there was the speculative comment: "It remains to be seen if the Left Marxists of Fbx harass, intimidate or if the FNSB just arrests the carolers." "Fbx" is local shorthand for Fairbanks. "FNSB" refers to the Fairbanks North Star Borough — the local government body that oversees law enforcement. No permits have been filed publicly, and no counter-protesters have been announced. There’s no mention of police presence, no indication of legal challenges. That silence speaks volumes. Are the authorities choosing to let this play out peacefully? Or are they simply not prepared for what might come?

Historical photos from Getty Images show women protesting outside the same clinic in past years — some holding signs, others weeping. This year, the scene may look different: a circle of people in parkas, breath visible in the cold, voices rising in "O Holy Night" or "Silent Night," their candles casting long shadows on the clinic’s glass doors.

Why This Matters Beyond Fairbanks

This event matters because it reveals how deeply culture and faith are woven into the abortion debate — especially in rural, religious communities like those in interior Alaska. Fairbanks has a population of just over 30,000, but its influence extends across a vast, sparsely populated region. Many women seeking abortions here travel hundreds of miles to Anchorage or out of state. The clinic on Airport Way is one of the few remaining access points.

The caroling tactic is smart. It disarms. It invites empathy. It frames the issue not as a political battle, but as a spiritual one. And in a place where church attendance remains high and community ties run deep, that framing resonates. It’s not just about abortion. It’s about belonging. About being seen. About choosing life — not as a slogan, but as a shared ritual.

What Comes Next?

Organizers say they plan to repeat the caroling next year — and possibly expand to other Alaskan towns. If attendance grows, they may seek permits to amplify music or distribute pamphlets with local adoption resources. Meanwhile, abortion rights advocates have remained silent. Their silence may be strategic — refusing to elevate the event — or it may reflect a deeper uncertainty: when your opponent sings instead of shouts, how do you respond?

For now, on a cold December afternoon in Fairbanks, a small group of people will gather, bundled against the winter, holding candles and singing about a baby born in a manger. And somewhere, someone — perhaps a woman sitting alone in a waiting room — will hear the music. And wonder.