Thousands of pro-life marchers are expected to converge at the Arizona State Capitol next Thursday, February 23, for a pro-life rally and the Arizona March for Life.

With the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the battle to save preborn lives shifted from the federal level to state governments.

Cathi Herrod, president or the Center for Arizona Policy, invited pro-life marchers to join her to celebrate Roe’s demise, support mothers, push for greater protections for the unborn and fight pro-abortion legislation. In a recent email, she writes:

This year we march in celebration of the largest victory in the pro-life movement in 50 years, the overturning of wrongly decided Roe v. Wade decision. But that is not the only reason we march. Friends, we continue to march because the overturning of Roe was not the end, rather, it marks the beginning of a whole new chapter in the fight for life in our nation and in Arizona.

Currently, Arizona protects unborn babies at 15 weeks, and hopefully, we will see the pre-Roe law reinstated that will protect the lives of the unborn from conception unless necessary to save the life of the mother.

There are efforts underway right now as I type that would enshrine a “right to abortion” into our state’s constitution. So, we MARCH! WE march to protect the unborn, WE march to support mothers, WE march to promote a generational change in our state that makes abortion not just illegal, but unthinkable.

The March for Life Rally begins at 11 a.m. MST, at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix.

Herrod is scheduled to speak at the event, along with other pro-life activists, including:

  • President of the March For Life, Jeanne Mancini
  • Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, The Most Rev. John P. Dolan
  • Choices Pregnancy Center’s Josh Chumley
  • Arizona Life Coalition’s Lori Zee Gray and Ashley Trussell
  • Pastor Justin Erickson from Desert Bible Church

Pre-rally events start at several Phoenix churches and schools at 9 a.m., with the Arizona March for Life taking place after the rally, at noon.

The Daily Citizen recently spoke with Erin Gaetz, director of March for Life’s State March Program. She explained why the national March for Life expanded to include state rallies and marches:

With the overturn of Roe v. Wade, uniting pro-life people in their state capitols to advocate for life-affirming policies is now more important than ever. For the first time in fifty years, the people have a say in abortion policy.

While we still must make our voices heard at the federal level, it’s important that state lawmakers know that Americans want laws to protect unborn life and that is exactly what the State March Program seeks to accomplish.

The battle for life continues, so it’s important for pro-lifers to keep rallying and working.

Upcoming marches in different states include:

The March for Life plans to expand to all 50 states, and new events are being added to the national March for Life website as they are confirmed.

Related articles and resources:

Focus on the Family Facebook: I Am Pro-Life

Focus on the Family: Pro-Life Resources

How to Get Involved: Contact Your State Policy Group

March for Life Adds State Marches to Its Schedule – Ohio’s Is Wednesday, October 22

Marching for a Pro-Life America in a Post-Roe World

Pro-Life Virginians March for Life at State Capitol

What Actually Happened in ‘Dobbs’? A Short Explanation.

Photo from March for Life.