Pro-life campaigners held an all night protest at the University of Notre Dame in preparation for the arrival of President Barack Obama who was due to be awarded an honorary doctorate by the leading US Catholic university. Anti-abortion activists promised to disrupt the president's appearance on Sunday according to CBS News reports.
Mr Obama is scheduled to speak at 2.00pm ET.
South Bend police expect thousands of demonstrators opposed to abortion rights on Sunday, reports CBS affiliate WSBT.
But some anti-abortion right activists are concerned the protesters will go too far and wind up hurting their cause.
WSBT correspondent Kirk Mason reports there are three semi-trucks traveling around town displaying large images of aborted fetuses, as well as of an African-American man who appears to have been beaten.
The trucks are paid for by the Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform, a California based group. A spokesman told WSBT the pictures are designed to point out the inconsistencies of President Obama, that the country has overcome the evil of slavery but not abortion.
The organisation's head, Gregg Cunningham, posted on his website part of his response to a parent's complaint who objected to the group "ruining" her son's law school graduation. Cunningham wrote that "if Mr Obama is such a noble person and abortion is such a trivial matter, why would you be so troubled that we are showing the Class of 2009 the babies Mr Obama is killing?"
"I understand the passion of those like myself who want to protect innocent babies from being killed," Indiana Republican Mark Soudern told WSBT. "But the key thing here is to persuade those in the middle who don't agree with us." Souder is both an abortion opponent and a Notre Dame graduate.
Bishop John D'Arcy, who refused to attend the commencement because of Mr Obama's presence, led a late night candlelight prayer vigil on Saturday night.
Among those arrested was Fr Norman Weslin, a Catholic priest and founder of the Lambs of Christ abortion protest group. He also was among 21 people arrested during a similar protest on Friday.
Also protesting was Norma McCorvey, the plaintiff identified as "Roe" in the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalised abortion. She now opposes abortion.
She said she had planned to be arrested on Saturday, but changed her mind when a security officer ushered her to the side and gave her a chance to walk away.
"I didn't know why he just kind of gently moved me away. So I'm like, maybe this isn't the right time," McCorvey said.
About 12,000 people attended commencement Mass at the university on Saturday evening. Neither Fr Jenkins nor Bishop D'Arcy mentioned the controversy during the 85 minute service.
A full page advertisement in the South Bend Tribune on Saturday had the headline: "Catholic Leaders and Theologians Welcome President Obama to Notre Dame."
The advertisement, signed by university professors around the country, many of them at Catholic schools, said that as Catholics committed to civil dialogue, they were proud Mr Obama was giving the commencement address.
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