Inside the Rally to Celebrate Life
This past weekend, thousands gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to celebrate lives saved on the one-year anniversary of Roe’s reversal.
I was honored to be in attendance at this inspiring event, and to represent Focus on the Family as one of the rally speakers.
It was a hot, muggy summer day in Washington D.C., but the weather didn’t detract from the excitement of the moment in the slightest.
Speakers showed up well before the event got underway to greet each other and meet with press. And while each of the speakers represented a unique pro-life organization, there was a real sense of unity, appreciation and collaboration regarding mission. The ultimate goal being an America that values and protects preborn human life.
The rally began with a musical performance by Jonathan Alexandre, a prolife advocate and performer, singing “We Shall Overcome.”
He told the audience that song became the theme of the sound of freedom during the civil rights movement and said it can now serve as a theme song for the movement of life—we shall overcome.
Dr. Alveda King, niece to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., opened the rally with a stirring speech encouraging attendees that “now is the time to strengthen the fight to preserve life in our nation and safeguard our children.”
Dr. King quoted from her famous uncle’s “I have a dream” speech telling the crowd that this dream has to be realized in every generation. She said generations of babies have been aborted and denied the right to live and realize their own dreams. “Babies deserve the civil rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” she told the crowd.
Lila Rose, President of Live Action, called for equal protection under the law for preborn children. She said that she does not believe a new constitutional amendment is required because abortion is already illegal under the 14th Amendment.
Ryan Bomberger, co-founder of The Radiance Foundation, also spoke at the rally. Ryan was conceived in rape but raised in love with his adoptive family. He brought his two sons (ages 15 and 12) with him to the event. Talking with the boys backstage it was obvious just how proud they are of their dad and to be pro-life themselves. Ryan said he was grateful to share this special anniversary with his boys at the Lincoln Memorial celebrating life.
Michael Knowles, host of Daily Wire’s “The Michael Knowles Show,” told the crowd that no state has the right to murder.
“Babies are babies. God gave them life, and no one has the right to take that life away.”
Knowles predicts that if abortion is to end it will end with a restoration of the things that foster life.
“An economy that encourages both breadwinning and homemaking, an education system that cultivates virtue and suppresses vice, and the promotion of marriage between a husband and a wife.”
Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life of America, issued a call for an “America where every human being is recognized as the unrepeatable person that they are, with equal rights and equal protection under the 14th Amendment guaranteed.”
To watch the rally in its entirety, click here.
Photo credit Nicole Hunt.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nicole Hunt, J.D., is an attorney and serves as a writer and spokesperson at Focus on the Family. She provides analysis and advocacy engagement for Christians to promote faith, family, and freedom. Some of the issues she writes and speaks on include life, religious freedom, parental rights, marriage, and gender. Prior to joining Focus on the Family, Nicole practiced employment law specifically advising businesses and ministries on employment policies and practices. Nicole worked in Washington, D.C. as a Legislative Assistant to two Members of Congress. During her time on Capitol Hill, Nicole provided policy analysis and voting recommendations to Members of Congress on a variety of public policy matters, wrote speeches, drafted committee statements and questions, wrote floor statements, produced legislation and amendments to legislation, met and developed networks with constituents and interest groups, and worked on regional projects. In addition, Nicole served as an intern to Former Attorney General Ed Meese in the Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation, provided legal analysis to Americans United for Life, and interned in the Office of Strategic Initiatives at The White House during the George W. Bush Administration. Nicole earned her J.D. from George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School and her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Political Science from Westmont College. Nicole enjoys riding horses and spending time camping and hiking with her family in the great outdoors. Nicole is married to her husband, Jeff, and they have four children. Follow Nicole on Twitter @nicolehunt
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