Owosso, Mich., Sep 15, 2009 / 05:38 pm (CNA).- Friends and family of murdered pro-life activist Jim Pouillon will gather to pray and remember him at Willman Football Stadium in Owosso, Michigan on Wednesday afternoon.

Following the gathering, friends of Pouillon will gather to pray and rally in opposition to violence against innocent people in front of the local Planned Parenthood. Both events are open to the public.

"We must emulate Jim's example as a follower of Jesus Christ and public defender of pre-born babies," Cal Zastrow of PersonhoodUSA said in a press release. "We will join together in Owosso to praise Jesus Christ, remember Jim, and continue to speak out against all violence against the innocent - the tragic violence that killed Jim on September 11th, and the tragic violence that kills thousands of pre-born babies daily at Planned Parenthood.

“Being pro-life doesn't save any babies from murder, but acting pro-life does."

Pouillon. who was dependent upon an oxygen tank and leg braces, was killed in front of Owosso High School where he was holding a sign protesting abortion. One side of the sign depicted a baby with the word “Life” above.

His accused murderer, 33-year-old Harlan Drake, told detectives he targeted Pouillon because he was “offended by the manner of his message.”

Drake is also accused of murdering a local businessman shortly after he killed Pouillon. Drake reportedly planned to kill a third man but was arrested before he could do so.

In a Friday interview with CNA, Zastrow described his friend Pouillon as a “wonderful, Christian, peaceful man” who was “very non-violent.”

“Jim was ready for this.  His life had been threatened many, many times,” he said. “He never approved of violence and he never threatened anybody.”

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