Nationwide Events Mark 26th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

By Liz Townsend

Prayerful and determined, pro-lifers in cities across the country gathered together to mark the 26th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. In marches, rallies, and vigils, they vowed to keep working for a return to respect for all human life in America.

"The carnage is horrific. That's why we keep meeting like this," Jean Garton, founder of Luther-ans for Life, told a crowd of over 3,000 at the March for Life in Little Rock, Arkansas, January 24. "We keep meeting like this as a reminder that we can't be nonchalant about abortion. . . . We keep meeting like this to encourage our legislators to continue to fight for the right to life."

Arkansas legislators, including Gov. Mike Huckabee, joined Garton in speaking to the pro-lifers, who marched to the state capitol building.

Nebraska's governor also joined right to life supporters at a Walk for Life in Lincoln January 23. In front of the state capitol, Gov. Mike Johanns pledged to the 4,800 pro-lifers in attendance that his administration would do "whatever we can do to support your agenda in the building behind me."

Over 1,000 pro-lifers rallied in Austin, Texas, January 23 in support of a proposed parental notification bill that will be introduced in this legislative session. With signs calling for legislators to "Restore Parental Rights," the crowd marched up Congress Avenue to the capitol.

At the annual Hands Around the Capitol rally in Augusta, Maine, January 16, organizers announced that they had collected more than 70,000 signatures in a petition drive to put a referendum banning partial-birth abortions on the ballot if the legislature does not pass such a law in this session. Bishop Joseph Gerry of the Roman Catholic diocese of Portland denounced the gruesome partial-birth abortion procedure: "if that is not barbaric, I do not know what barbaric means; if that is not the taking of innocent life, I do not know what taking innocent life means."

Elementary and junior high students delivered roses and letters to state legislators January 22 in Denver, Colorado. Colorado Right to Life and the Archdiocese of Denver asked pro-lifers to write their legislators in support of life. In addition, candlelight prayer vigils were held in cities across the state.

In neighboring Kansas, about 300 pro-lifers gathered in bitter cold at the capitol in Topeka January 22. Activities included workshops, a rally, a march around the capitol building, and a banquet.

Cold temperatures in Alaska did not stop pro-lifers from holding Life Chains in Anchorage and Fairbanks and a rally on the capitol steps in Juneau on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

Freezing rain greeted several thousand right to life supporters in St. Paul, Minnesota, January 22. These dedicated pro-lifers heard moving testimony from post-abortion counselor Denise Walker about her own abortions and the toll they took on her. "The abortionist said it wouldn't hurt, but he never said it would destroy my emotional life for decades," Walker said.

Hundreds of pro-lifers gathered in Salem, Oregon, January 17, braving wind and rain to decry abortion and euthanasia. Oregon is the only state that allows legal euthanasia, and right to lifers there are especially aware of the reality of the slippery slope. "In Oregon, I think it's real obvious that we're losing respect for life at both ends of the scale," Salem resident Cheri Crocker told the Statesman Journal. The pro-lifers vowed to continue to fight for the sanctity of all human life.

Rain also threatened to fall on the 2,000 right to lifers attending the Pro-Life Unity Rally in Birmingham, Alabama, January 23. Episcopal Rev. Jim Pinto of Pastors for Life prayed for God to "bind the sky and hold off the rain." As soon as he said "Amen," the sun came out to shine on the prayerful, peaceful walk.
Boise, Idaho, also enjoyed magnificent weather for the March for Life January 23. About 2,000 pro-lifers marched to the state capitol in almost shirt-sleeve weather.

Pro-lifers in Raleigh, North Carolina, marched around the capitol January 16 with the sun shining. NRLC President Wanda Franz addressed the crowd of about 1,000 people.

Almost 2,000 South Carolinians attended the Stand Up for Life march and rally in the state capital of Columbia January 16. The theme for the event was "The First Civil Right is the Right to Life." Kathleen Poole, who started the annual event 25 years ago, was honored as Volunteer for Life.

In neighboring Georgia, about 3,000 pro-lifers gathered Together for Life in Atlanta January 22. They prayed at a memorial service at the state capitol and then walked silently through downtown streets. Attendees donated 1,000 pairs of baby booties that lined the capitol steps in remembrance of unborn children. The booties were later given to area crisis pregnancy centers.

Alternatives to abortion were highlighted at the Hour of Reflection in Pierre, South Dakota, January 22. State Attorney General Mark Barnett told the 400 pro-lifers gathered in the capitol building that more efforts should be made to encourage adoption. Barnett also praised a program started by Catholic Bishop Robert Carlson of Sioux Falls that provides financial assistance to pregnant women in need.

Oklahoma pro-lifers also met in their capitol building in Oklahoma City for a program of education and encouragement. Gathering on February 2, the day after the legislative session began, they heard from Gov. Frank Keating and state legislators.

Californians organized a full day of pro-life activities January 22, with a prayer breakfast, educational workshops, a Catholic Mass, and the annual Rally for Life on the west steps of the capitol building in Sacramento. Hundreds of pro-lifers attended the events.

Right to life supporters in other parts of the state also reaffirmed their commitment to life. In Fresno, a candlelight prayer vigil was held January 21 and 22; Santa Maria pro-lifers marched for life January 22; and a pro-life fair and memorial service were held in San Diego January 22.

Local pro-life events brought the fight for life to streets, churches, and county courthouses across the nation. Florida events included a prayer vigil in Vero Beach and a march to the county courthouse in Fort Myers January 22.

About 300 Phoenix, Arizona, pro-lifers attended a prayer breakfast January 22, along with prayer vigils at abortion clinics. Next door in New Mexico, 1,000 luminaria bags were placed near a gravesite dedicated to unborn children at a cemetery in Albuquerque January 23.

In Illinois, pro-lifers held an educational meeting called Speak Out Illinois in Rosemont January 16; over 150 people participated in a 100-hour prayer vigil in Peoria, which ended in a Sanctity of Human Life Rally January 22; Champaign pro- lifers attended a speakers' training session January 23; and other communities sponsored pro-life signature ads in local newspapers.

Indiana right to lifers also focused on local events. Memorial services were held in churches near Chicago, and pro-lifers attended rallies in the towns of Kokomo, Columbus, Elkhart, and South Bend.

In Washington state, pro-lifers held a March for Life in Olympia January 19, memorial services in Enumclaw January 17 and Bellevue January 22, and a silent vigil in Vancouver January 23. In addition, pro-lifers in Washington, Idaho, and Montana participated in a "Candles for Life" memorial, in which special candles burned from 6 to 9 p.m. January 22 as a way to remember the victims of abortion.

Many events were held throughout the state of Wisconsin, including rallies and marches in Green Bay, Superior, Eau Claire, Wausau, and Milwaukee.

In addition to a rally in Louisville, over 600 Kentucky pro-lifers attended a Congres-sional Breakfast in Washington, D.C., January 22. And over 1,000 right to lifers from Ohio also met at a Congressional Breakfast in the nation's capital. Participants from both breakfasts joined the national March for Life, along with tens of thousands of other pro-life champions.

Hundreds of buses descended onto the city of Washington from states such as Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Connecticut.

In addition to sending many buses to D.C., pro-lifers in New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and West Virginia also held various local events.

New York right to lifers marched for life in Syracuse, Plattsburgh, and Cortland.
Rhode Island pro-lifers held a rally at the state house in Providence January 17. Over 400 participants listened to inspiring words from Br. Juniper Mary Sistare of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.

About 300 people attended a March for Life in Knoxville, Tennessee, January 17, while pro-lifers in Cumberland County held a motorcade through the streets of Crossville.

And West Virginia pro-lifers held memorial services in Logan County and Morgantown and a candlelight prayer vigil in Mineral County.

Jean Garton at the Arkansas march echoed the demand of all the pro-lifers who participated in events across the nation. "You cannot kill the weakest and most vulnerable among us," she insisted. "You may not continue to legally and lucratively, and coldly and cruelly, detachedly and deliberately, kill the children of America and America's God." Until this demand is a reality - - until the right to life is restored to all Americans, born and unborn - - pro-lifers will never rest.