At least 2,000 people gathered at the South Carolina State House January 15, 2011, for the annual Stand Up for Life March and Rally. The crowd included 700 Catholic youth who filled the steps behind the podium.

Featured speaker, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, brought the pro-life message home with his own personal stories of losing his son Gabrielle two hours after birth, a son he and his wife Karen were given the option to abort, and their current fight for the life of another child born with severe developmental disabilities.

This year’s rally was held in memory of Sheila Massey a renowned African-American pro-life leader who died in September. In a stirring tribute to his late wife, Pastor Oliver Massey spoke of her passion for the pro-life movement, her distress over the number of black children who are aborted, and her belief that “every fetus should have the opportunity to become the president of the United States.”

The Knights of Columbus and the Knights of St. Peter Claver led the marchers from the University of South Carolina to the north plaza of the State House. Joyful Sound of North Greenville University provided inspirational music. (Photos by Ila Woodwyk, R.N.)