March for Life Adds State Marches to Its Schedule – Ohio’s Is This Wednesday

When the U.S. Supreme Court invented a spurious constitutional “right to abortion” in its Roe v. Wade decision in January 1973, the court invalidated a multitude of state laws and legalized abortion on demand throughout the United States.

In October of that year, 30 pro-life leaders met to discuss how to respond, and Nellie Gray founded and led the first national March for Life in January 1974, in Washington, D.C., with an estimated 20,000 participants.

The rally and march became an annual event, growing to have hundreds of thousands of participants from across the country – millions of people over the years showing their support for pre-born babies.

With the Supreme Court overturning Roe, state laws regulating and limiting abortion are more important than ever. March for Life, the group that organizes the event, will still hold a national rally in 2023, but they’re also hosting statewide marches.

The Ohio March for Life is the next event, scheduled for Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at the Ohio State Capitol Square, in Columbus. A Pre-Rally Concert, with Damascus Worship, begins at 10:00 a.m., the Rally starts at 11:00, and the March starts at noon.

The Daily Citizen contacted Erin Gaetz, director of March for Life’s State March Program. She told us how she got involved in pro-life work:

I used to believe the lies that the abortion industry tells women, that abortion is “healthcare.” After doing my own research, I learned that abortion actually harms both women and children. As my passion for the pro-life movement grew, I knew that I wanted to get more involved.

Now, she told us, she’s privileged to work with many state-based organizations, including Focus on the Family-allied Family Policy Councils, to advocate for life at state capitols. The state marches begin earlier this year, she said:

This year we marched in Connecticut, Virginia, California, Pennsylvania, and Ohio! In 2023, we will continue in these states, adding a few more, like Arizona! We are so thrilled to be heading to the Grand Canyon State! 

Gaetz explained why March for Life is expanding 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.

Even though Roe was struck down by the court, the battle for life still continues, so it’s important for pro-lifers to keep rallying and working. Gaetz said:

The overturn of Roe cleared the way to enact life-affirming laws at both the national and state through the democratic process. This means that the fight for life continues in the U.S. Congress as well as in the states.

It is imperative that we continue to use our voices every January to encourage federal lawmakers to protect existing pro-life policies like the Hyde amendment and advance protections for the unborn. We won’t stop until abortion is both unthinkable!

The Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) is a Focus-allied pro-life, pro-family organization. Aaron Baer, president of CCV, is one of the speakers at the rally this Wednesday. He told us, “We can’t let our voices be silenced! This year’s March for Life will send the message that the pro-life movement is here to stay.”

Baer explained that Ohio has many pro-life laws, but the state is under attack from radical abortion groups. That’s why pro-life groups must keep up the pressure:

Ohio has become a national leader in protecting women and unborn children from the abortion industry. Yet today, Planned Parenthood is spending millions in our state to overturn our Heartbeat Bill and bring abortion up until birth back to the Buckeye State.

Other speakers at the rally include Dr. Alveda King, Alveda King Ministries, Jeanne Mancini, President, March for Life and Margie Christie, the President of the Right to Life Action Coalition in Ohio.

Pastor David Forbes of the Columbus Christian Center, and Peter Range, the Executive Director of Ohio Right to Life, are also scheduled to participate.

Gaetz assured us that the National March for Life in January will continue:

Yes! The March for Life will take place on Friday January 20, 2023 on the National Mall. We can’t wait to mark the historic victory in the Dobbs case with the first post-Roe March for Life.

Register for the Ohio Rally and March for Life.

For more information about the event, such as parking, the march route, bringing a group, and the schedule, check out Ohio March for Life.

Find out more about Ohio’s Center for Christian Virtue.

Related articles and resources:

Focus on the Family Facebook: I Am Pro-Life

Focus on the Family: Pro-Life Resources

New Pro-Life Measure Introduced in Ohio

Ohio Legislature Passes ‘Born-Alive Infant Protection Act,’ Likely Closing Two Abortion Clinics

Ohio Legislature Passes ‘Born-Alive Infant Protection Act,’ Likely Closing Two Abortion Clinics

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