By Liz Townsend
The American pro-life grassroots came out in force in January to commemorate the 31st anniversary of legal abortion. Thousands rallied in cities and towns to demand that the unborn be protected in law and respected in our hearts.
The recently elected governor of Kentucky joined pro-lifers in his state. Gov. Ernie Fletcher spoke to the crowd in Frankfort January 28, endorsing a proposed state law that would consider an unborn baby the second victim of a crime. "If a life is taken ... justice cries out that there be some accounting for that," Fletcher said at the rally.
Rhode Island Gov. Donald and First Lady Sue Carcieri addressed hundreds of pro-lifers in the State House Rotunda in Providence January 22. "Scientifically speaking, the unborn child is just as human as you and me," said Mrs. Carcieri. "They can't protest, so someone's got to protest for them."
The First Lady of Georgia, Mary Perdue, participated in a rally in Atlanta January 22. Mrs. Perdue, who has been a foster mother, encouraged the thousands of pro-lifers to educate the public about alternatives to abortion.
Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns joined over 3,000 pro-lifers January 17 as they walked through the streets of Lincoln. On the capitol steps, Gov. Johanns reaffirmed his commitment to the unborn, shouting, "I am pro-life!" Speakers also stressed the importance of a proposed state bill that would ban all human cloning.
Speakers at the annual right-to-life gathering in Raleigh, North Carolina, January 17 urged the hundreds of participants to support pro-life politicians. "You are critical in this next election," Rep. Walter Jones said to the crowd.
Arkansas pro-lifers were also encouraged to be active participants. "This is an election year, and not only your vote but your advocacy matters," Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas told thousands of pro-lifers gathered January 18 in Little Rock. Participants marched 13 blocks to the steps of the state capitol.
Rallies in other states focused on legislation to protect the unborn. Pro-lifers in Minnesota celebrated the 2003 Woman's Right to Know law, while pledging to introduce more legislation.
"We're going to be fighting very hard this year for the Taxpayer Protection Act" to deny state funding to groups involved in providing abortions, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life Executive Director Scott Fischbach told thousands of pro-lifers at the state capitol in St. Paul January 22. "We're dedicated and won't go away until Roe v. Wade is overturned."
Tennessee pro-lifers want to eliminate a court-discovered "right" to abortion. "Let the people of Tennessee choose whether they want life or death, hope or despair," state Sen. David Fowler said at a rally on the steps of the capitol in Nashville January 18, "and I believe they will choose life."
Pro-lifers in Massachusetts are hopeful about a Woman's Right to Know law that is moving through the legislature. At the Assembly for Life in Boston January 11, House Speaker Thomas Finneran told participants that he hoped the bill "might give people pause before they pursue this gruesome remedy to what some people see as a problem."
Washington pro-lifers are watching a proposed state Senate parental notification bill. At the annual March for Life in Olympia January 20, more than 1,500 right-to-life supporters showed their enthusiasm and commitment. "The crowds are getting bigger," Sr. Mary Matthew, a 20-year veteran of the state rally, told the Associated Press. "There's a greater determination from people who love life." Over 100 pro-lifers also rallied in Vancouver.
In neighboring Oregon, about 700 right-to-life supporters attended a rally at the state capital of Salem January 18. Speaker of the House Karen Minnis was a featured speaker.
Just to the south in California, over 1,000 pro-lifers gathered for the Rally for Life in Sacramento January 22. They attended workshops to learn more about right-to-life issues.
Educational workshops also provided an extra dimension to the Rally for Life in Topeka, Kansas, January 22. Pro-lifers came to the state capitol to learn about issues, lobby their legislators, and remember the babies and mothers wounded by abortion.
Speaking about abortion's impact on minorities and the underprivileged, keynote speaker Star Parker educated a large crowd of pro-lifers at the Colorado March for Life in Denver January 17. Three days later, right-to-lifers gathered again at the state capitol to hear heartbreaking stories from women who had abortions in a Silent No More rally.
Post-abortion pain and healing was also a focus of the Stand Up for Life rally in Columbia, South Carolina, January 10. Vera Faith Lord told the crowd about her journey from despair to redemption through Christ's love.
Pro-lifers also gathered in state capitals on January 17 in Montpelier, Vermont, and Augusta, Maine; January 18 in Phoenix, Arizona; January 19 in Helena, Montana; January 20 in Des Moines, Iowa; January 22 in Juneau, Alaska; Lansing, Michigan; and Honolulu, Hawaii; January 24 in Austin, Texas, and Boise, Idaho; and January 25 in Springfield, Illinois.
Outside the state capitals, pro-lifers also attended rallies in towns such as San Benito and Dallas, Texas; Sheboygan, Wisconsin; Louisville, Kentucky; Jacksonville, Florida; Carbondale, Illinois; Dubuque, Iowa; Hilton Head, South Carolina; and Rapid City, South Dakota.
Candlelight vigils provided a moving way to remember those lost through abortion. Vigils were held in many towns, including Shelbyville, Cleveland, and Fayetteville, Tennessee; Harlingen and Victoria, Texas; Burlington, Vermont; Sturgeon Bay and Baraboo, Wisconsin; Jackson, Wyoming; Grand Junction and Fort Collins, Colorado; and Graham, North Carolina.
Many pro-lifers contributed to the fight against abortion through prayer. Commemorative memorial services were held in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, Colorado; Springfield and Youngstown, Ohio; and Mandeville, Louisiana.
The national March for Life in Washington, D.C., drew a crowd estimated to be nearly 100,000 strong. Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York, to name just a few, provided many participants.
Ohio and Kentucky right-to-lifers held special Congressional Breakfasts with their legislators on the morning of the march. At the same time, over 17,000 young pro-lifers from across the country participated in the Youth Rally for Life and Mass at the MCI Center before walking a few blocks to join the March.
In addition to traditional rallies, other communities found unique ways to commemorate the anniversary. Pro-lifers in Dublin, Georgia, participated in a moving tribute to the unborn as they walked in silence through the streets of their town January 25.
In Huntington County, Indiana, 16 churches tolled their bells for five minutes at noon January 22 to remember the babies lost to abortion. Pro-lifers in Louisiana wore and displayed white ribbons during the month of January.
In the Greater Peoria area, churches collected $4,500, which was used to buy baby food that was then donated to local social service agencies. "We have held the baby food drive for 31 years to support the mothers and families who have chosen life for their babies," said project coordinator Kay Grillot.
The words of Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline beautifully expressed the goal of all pro-lifers. "The true calling of America is the calling of human dignity," said Kline at the Topeka rally. "It is the recognition that every life - - no matter if it is desired or undesired, whether it is impoverished or wealthy, forgotten or well-connected and powerful, whether it is male or female, whatever its race - - every life has value. And that value must be enshrined in our laws for justice to prevail in a nation that finds its calling in human dignity."