March for Life in Ohio – October 5, 2022

Every January since 1974, a year after the U.S. Supreme Court created a “constitutional right to abortion” out of thin air in its infamous Roe v. Wade decision, Americans have gathered in Washington, D.C. to protest and support preborn lives.

But when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe in its Dobbs decision, the battle to save lives shifted to the states, and pro-life groups are now hosting March for Life rallies, demonstrations and marches at their state capitols.

Ohio is the next state to do so, with the Ohio March for Life scheduled for Wednesday, October 5, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Ohio State Capitol Square, in Columbus.

March for Life Education and Defense Fund, the group that organizes the annual national March for life rally and march in Washington, D.C., is working with organizations like the Center for Christian Virtue (CCV), a state-based Family Policy Council allied with Focus on the Family, to coordinate the event.

Damascus Worship starts the day with a pre-rally concert, followed by a rally with speakers including Dr. Alveda King, Alveda King Ministries; Aaron Baer, President of Center for Christian Virtue; and Jeanne Mancini, President, March for Life.

Pastor David Forbes, Columbus Christian Center; Peter Range, Executive Director of Ohio March for Life; and Bishop David Bonnar

CCCV President Aaron Baer told the Daily Citizen why the state march and the continued efforts of pro-life activists are so necessary:

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 Law, and bring abortion up until birth back to the Buckeye State.

Ohio has passed numerous abortion restrictions, including a Heartbeat Law in 2019, banning abortions after the preborn infant’s heartbeat could be detected, usually around six weeks.

But the law was challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood, and a federal court judge blocked its enforcement.

Just eight hours after Roe was overturned, the state’s attorney general successfully petitioned a federal court judge to lift the three-year long injunction. Ohio’s governor then issued an executive order for the state Department of Health to adopt rules to implement the heartbeat law.

Yet again, the ACLU and Planned Parenthood have filed a suit to overturn the abortion ban.

Even though Roe has been overturned, these state battles demonstrate the continued battle over life in the womb.

There are many reasons to march for life, and Focus on the Family President Jim Daly has listed some of them in a blog post:

We march to call attention to the injustices of the last half-century and put those who champion the unfettered killing of babies on the defensive.
We march so that a future generation of women will not be enslaved to live lives of regret.
We march to show the world there is a better way.
We march to remind the world every child is a wanted one, and every child will someday mean the world to somebody.
We march to make a difference and proclaim that life is better than death.

March for Life helped organize state marches earlier this year in Connecticut, California and Pennsylvania. Next year, the group is planning the national March for Life on January 20, in Washington, D.C., and a state event in Virginia, on February 1.

Baer told us it’s important for prolife Ohioans to keep engaged and participate in the march: