Pro-Lifers Rally Nationwide to Renew Commitment to Protect Unborn Life
By Liz Townsend

Buoyed by pro-life successes in elections and legislatures, right to lifers renewed their commitment to life by gathering around the country to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

Although cold winter weather hit much of the country around January 22, pro-lifers were still able to come out in impressive numbers to call for an end to abortion. Chilly temperatures could not deter thousands from marching in Little Rock, Arkansas, January 23. Gov. Mike Huckabee attended, as he has done for years. "I'm not a pro-life person because of politics; I got into politics because I'm very pro-life," he said. "I believe it's an important issue we have to take a stand on."

A huge crowd of more than 2,500 marched in St. Paul, Minnesota, January 22 through newly fallen snow. At the state capitol, Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced support for a bill that would provide state grants for abortion alternatives. "We want to give help and assistance to these women to choose a better alternative than abortion," Pawlenty said. He declared January 22 the state's first-ever Sanctity of Human Life Day.

Legislation was also highlighted at a rally in Helena, Montana, January 17. Pro-lifers are working to pass laws protecting unborn victims of violence, requiring death certificates to be issued for aborted babies, and informing women about fetal pain.

Over 2,000 Georgia pro-lifers came Together for Life in Atlanta January 21, hearing from state legislators who pledged to introduce bills to protect unborn babies. "As far as I'm concerned, in 2005 we will have a vote on the Women's Right to Know Bill," new House Speaker Glenn Richardson told the crowd. He was joined by 28 other pro-life state legislators.

Kansas right to lifers are also committed to passing pro-life legislation, including a ban on human cloning and an unborn victims of violence act. They gathered in Topeka January 21 to show their support for life.

An enthusiastic crowd of over 250 rallied in Nashville, Tennessee, January 22 as snow fell. Speakers detailed proposed legislation, such as an abortion waiting period, parental notification, informed consent, and "Choose Life" license plate. "We are on the right side of this issue, we are on the winning side," said Brian Harris, president of Tennessee Right to Life. "We are working to demonstrate that there is broad support in this state for a right to life."

In a moving event January 15, pro-lifers in Augusta, Maine, marched to the state capitol in respectful silence, broken only by the tolling of a bell. They linked hands around the building as a bell on the capitol lawn rang 32 times for each year since Roe.

A flock of white doves and pink and blue balloons rose into the sky over the March for Life in Denver, Colorado, January 22. The balloons represented babies who were born because their mothers chose life. Featured speaker Dr. Patrick Johnston told the crowd that physicians should follow their oath to "do no harm." "It's high time we revive the pro-life plank of the Hippocratic Oath," Johnston said.

Young people made up a large part of the hundreds of pro-lifers gathered in Raleigh, North Carolina, January 15. They marched around the state capitol and heard words of encouragement to continue their grassroots work. "God is honoring the work you're doing," said speaker Lynda Bell, past president of Florida Right to Life. "When you hand out literature, volunteer at phone banks, vote on Election Day, when you speak up in class, when you drive another person to the polls, you are having an effect."

In neighboring South Carolina, pro-lifers faced chilly temperatures January 22 for the annual Stand Up for Life rally in Columbia. The featured speaker was Jennifer O'Neill, who shared her emotional story of redemption after abortion.

Pro-lifers also attended rallies in Salem, Oregon, January 16; Providence, Rhode Island, and Olympia, Washington, January 19; Honolulu, Hawaii, January 21; Phoenix, Arizona; Hartford, Connecticut; Jackson, Mississippi; Pierre, South Dakota; Austin, Texas; and Montpelier, Vermont, January 22; Santa Fe, New Mexico, January 24; and Lincoln, Nebraska, January 29.

Attendees at the Interfaith Assembly for Life in Boston, Massachusetts, January 16 prayed for everyone touched by the tragedy of abortion. "We love life, and we recognize the sanctity of every human life," said Peg Whitbread, president of Massachusetts Citizens for Life. "We also are here to remember those women who succumbed to this culture of death. Women, who in their attempt to destroy their own children, have had their own lives destroyed. They are as much a victim as their children who will never be born."

An interfaith memorial service was also held in Warren, Michigan, January 23. Michigan right to lifers also marched in Traverse City, Holland, Ludington, Riverview, and Dearborn; held candlelight vigils in Au Gres, East Tawas, Livonia, Midland, and Monroe; attended prayer services in Westland, Linwood, Gladwin, Grand Rapids, Bad Axe, Lake Odessa, Adrian, Brighton, Roscommon, Saginaw, and Sandusky; and held a memorial motorcade in Jackson. Pro-lifers gathered in the state capitol rotunda in Lansing January 24 for the Sanctity of Human Life Rally.

In Wisconsin, right to life chapters celebrated life in many communities. There were marches in Green Bay, Appleton, and Milwaukee; prayer services in Fond du Lac and Jefferson; a memorial walk in La Crosse; a candlelight vigil in Manitowoc; rallies in Baraboo and Sheboygan; and a baby shower in Shell Lake.

Illinois pro-lifers found several unique ways to commemorate the Roe anniversary. They attended a "Recommitment to Life" rally at the capitol in Springfield January 23. Students in Tazewell County collected over $5,500 worth of baby food and formula for needy families. Churches in McHenry County rang their bells at noon January 23.

Huntington County, Indiana, churches also tolled their bells January 22 for five minutes in remembrance of babies killed by abortion. South Bend pro-lifers marched through their town January 21. Indiana also sent a large contingent to Washington, D.C., for the national March for Life.

Also attending the national march were pro-lifers from states near the nation's capital, such as Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, as well as others who traveled from even further away, such as Missouri, Alabama, and Florida to march to the Supreme Court.

Marchers from Dubuque, Iowa, boarded buses headed to D.C. after their Walk for Life January 22 in a wind chill of close to zero degrees. Right to life supporters also marched in the capital of Des Moines January 19 and in Fort Madison January 29.

Kentucky pro-lifers held their statewide rally in Frankfort February 2 because many traveled to Washington for the March and their annual Congressional Breakfast. Right to lifers also gathered in Louisville January 21 to rally at the Jefferson County Courthouse.

A Congressional Breakfast is also a major event for Ohio pro-lifers, who travel in large numbers to D.C. each year. There are also many events held in towns around the state, such as a candlelight vigil in Medina; a Youth Rally for Life in Columbus; and prayer vigils in Tallmadge, Urbana, and Toledo.

The words of Roman Catholic Archbishop Wilton Gregory at the rally in Atlanta expressed the feelings of all pro-lifers who stood up for life in January. "We shall not go away," Gregory said. "We shall only grow stronger and more determined to make certain a human life in the womb will no longer be considered a choice to be made, but a life to be loved."