WASHINGTON—For 47 years, people of all faiths, denominations, races and backgrounds have gone to Washington to march for life and stand against abortion. Thousands of pro-life supporters have converged on the National Mall and marched on Capitol Hill on the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion.
This year on January 29, because of COVID-19 restrictions, there will be a virtual March. The March for Life leaders are encouraging people to sign up for the Virtual March so they will be able to participate virtually. In order to sign up, click here.
“We marched during the blizzard of 2016, we’ve marched during government shutdowns, we marched after 9/11, we will march again this year,” said Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life. “We’ve marched for 47 years, and no sacrifice is too great to fight this human rights abuse of abortion.”
This year’s theme is “Together Strong: Life Unites” For more information, click here.
Dr. Lenore Opalak, co-leader of the 40 Days for Life campaign in Bridgeport, said that in order to include the large number of people who would usually attend the March but cannot travel this year due to pandemic restrictions, the March for Life has added a virtual component, featuring live-streaming of the pre-rally concert and entire roster of speakers.
“As long as the ultimate human rights abuse of the killing of pre-born babies, sanctioned by the government, continues, the March for Life will continue, providing essential public witness in support of the sanctity of life,” she said.
Because of the problems posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the March will be scaled down this year with the requisite masking/social distancing in place.
“It is so important that we persevere in prayer and make our voices heard in opposition to abortion to protect the lives of babies and help for the mothers who are faced with the decision,” said Maureen Ciardiello, coordinator of Respect Life & Project Rachel for the Diocese of Bridgeport. Project Rachel is a ministry of the Church that offers a program to help post-abortive women in the healing process. For more information, contact Ciardiello by phone at 203.416.1445 or email at mciardiello@diobpt.org.
The March for Life will be held on Friday, January 29 on the National Mall in Washington DC between the Washington Monument and 12th Street. The pre-rally concert will begin at 11 am followed by the rally at noon. The march begins immediately following the rally at approximately 1 p.m. and proceeds east from the Washington Monument, between 12th and 14th Streets on Constitution Avenue and ends in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Matthew West, the GMA Dove Award®-winning and GRAMMY Award®-nominated artist/songwriter, will be performing at this year’s rally.
“I am honored to be performing at the March for Life,” West said. “This is an important event, and I look forward to proudly lifting my voice along with thousands of people from all walks of life as we gather together in Washington DC and send this message loud and clear: I believe every life deserves a voice. Every child deserves a chance.”
In addition to West, speakers will include athlete, author and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow; Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of the late Rev. Billy Graham; Elizabeth Eller, student body president at Christendom College, and Archbishop Joseph Naumann, the USCCB Chair of the Pro-Life Committee.
“People from all different walks of life, faiths, colors, and backgrounds are united in the belief that life has inherent human dignity,” said Jeanne Mancini. “This year’s theme highlights diversity as the true strength of the pro-life movement and how our commitment to life has the power to unify. The world today is divided, but the pro-life movement is working for the day that abortion, one of the most fundamentally divisive acts, becomes unthinkable.”
