Santorum's Classmates Plan Niles Protest

A group of presidential candidate Rick Santorum's former classmates have released this statement:

Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum, a 1976 alumni of Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, IL, will face a group of demonstrators from his alma mater as he holds a rally at Northridge High School in Niles, IL (Friday at 7 p.m.).

Earlier: Santorum Coming To Niles Friday

The protesters will demonstrate in support of Gay, Lesbian, Bi and Trans equality and against Santorum's conservative positions on a number of social issues. Close to 400 members have joined the Facebook page "Carmel Catholic Alumni Against Rick Santorum."

Martha Ann Cahill Weaver, Carmel Catholic class of 1967, who is active with her local chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) said; "I'm embarrassed that Santorum attended Carmel. . . I am deeply saddened that he could so easily write off an entire group of human beings."

Demonstrators feel it is important to counter Santorum's anti-gay hate, to set an example to students. Santorum's statements against the LGBT community have contributed to a culture of fear in schools around the country. The protesters want bullied students to know that "It Gets Better."

Polls show that the majority of American Catholics support gay rights, contraception and women's right to choose. Santorum has taken positions opposed to Catholic Bishops statements on war, unions and immigrants.

Jim Wilkins, a 1976 Carmel Catholic alumni said, "two key things I was taught at Carmel and Santa Maria were that you treat everyone fairly and equally and how you treat the most disadvantaged among us defines you as a person. Santorum fails on both points."