By By Brendan O’Reilly

A district attorney wants University students to help him fight abortion.

Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon spoke at the Cultural Center Theater last week about the pro-life movement.

The event was sponsored by Students for Life and the College Republicans.

Dillon, a Republican, rolled up his sleeves and addressed the crowd of 14 people as he explained he was always against abortion, but he had not participated in activism until some University students inspired him.

Dillon was invited to speak at the University many years ago by the now defunct Pro-Life Club, he said and became involved with the students and their protests.

There were political repercussions for expressing his beliefs, he added, but he continued on in his efforts anyway.

Dillon introduced the audience to “heroes” of the pro-life movement.

He mentioned Randall Terry of Operation Rescue, whose members took direct action against abortion by blocking the entrances to abortion clinics or chaining themselves to the doors.

He also spoke of Joan Andrews, known as St. Joan of Newark in the pro-life movement, who spent four years in jail for invading the Ladies Center Clinic in Pensacola in 1986 with members of Rescue America.

Dillon was once a Democrat, but contrasting views on abortion led to his departure from the party.

Dillon was also endorsed by the Right to Life Party; he never lost their favor, but the party is no longer recognized by New York State since they failed to receive 50,000 votes in the gubernatorial election, he said.