Arkansas reveals plans for new 'monument to the unborn' at state capitol which will commemorate fetuses aborted between 1973 and 2022 before procedure was outlawed

Arkansas officials have unveiled plans for a 'monument to the unborn' to commemorate fetuses aborted in the years before the procedure was outlawed in the state.

The monument will be situated at the state's Capitol to mark pregnancies terminated from 1973 to 2022 when the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and Arkansas made abortion illegal except to save a mother's life.

Proposals for the memorial included a bronze statue of a blindfolded baby sat atop an umbilical chord and placenta, an empty tomb and a monument incorporating facts about children in the care system.

Nine submissions were received in total, with the Capitol Arts and Grounds favoring a living wall composed of flora and fauna designed by local artist Lakey Goff. 

Secretary of State John Thurston will make the final decision on the $55,472 monument.

Arkansas officials have unveiled plans for a 'monument to the unborn' to commemorate fetuses aborted in the years before the procedure was outlawed in the state

Proposals for the memorial included a bronze statue of a blindfolded baby sat atop an umbilical chord and placenta, an empty tomb and a monument incorporating facts about children in the care system

The memorial was proposed by Republican state senator Kim Hammer under Act 310, which permits Thurston to commission 'a suitable monument commemorating unborn children aborted during the era of Roe v. Wade.'

The plans have faced cross-party opposition, with many representatives concerned about whether an abortion monument could be 'tasteful'. 

Commission member Tony Leraris previously said he was 'dumbfounded' at the suggestion and was the only member to abstain from voting stating he found many of the suggestions, 'repulsive'.

'Personally, I just don't know how you tastefully immortalize an aborted fetus,' he told NPR. 

'I just find the whole subject matter almost unspeakable and to think that we've got to put a monument up on the Capitol grounds to immortalize this. I just can't see that this subject matter is something that we need to be doing.'

Commissioner Beth Gipe for the living wall from the proposals and said it should 'at least be beautiful and not tragic.'

'It's the least offensive if we have to answer this charge,' Gipe told the outlet.

The living wall was designed by Goff who pointed to a similar installation at Liberty Park in New York City, the site of the 9/11 attacks.

The memorial was proposed by Republican state senator Kim Hammer under Act 310 which allows the Secretary of State to commission 'a suitable monument commemorating unborn children aborted during the era of Roe v. Wade'

The monument will be situated at the state's Capitol to mark pregnancies terminated from 1973 to 2022, when the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade

Goff stated in her submission that living walls are 'healing, innovative and inspiring'.

Her design is comprised of four, 10-by-33.3-foot concrete panels covered with plants. 

The concept also features seating, lights and speakers playing waterfall sounds.

However, concerns about cost mean the finalized version of her design is still up for debate.

Use of perennial plants such as English Ivy has been proposed as a way to keep maintenance costs down. 

'One thing that we do always keep in mind, you know, up here when we're building a new monument or really anything around the Capitol is we've got to understand it's going to have to withstand the test of time,' Brent Stamp, director of capitol facilities told Arkansas Online.

'It's going to be there long after we're gone. And maintenance and recurring costs are a big issue, something that is always at the forefront of our mind.'

Capitol Arts and Grounds is due to vote on its selection on May 14.