{A} midst a steady flurry and several inches of fallen snow stands a large, bandied crowd of pro-life Americans. Snowmen dot the National Mall, proudly holding “CHOOSE LIFE” signs in their stick-hands.
Catholic high-school students, large families, young mothers pushing strollers, conservative college kids, nondenominational-church groups, and sandaled friars all contribute to the friendly mass. The Eternal World Television Network (EWTN) and the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) have staffed media stations along the path of the march. The Knights of Columbus have provided numerous attendees and volunteers to help run the event. As I weaved in and out of the crowd, I was taken aback by the general kindness of the attendees (clearly, I have spent too much time in the city). Choruses of “Excuse me, sorry!” and “Pardon me, sweetie!” greeted me as I made my rounds.
The March for Life has always taken place in the dead of winter. The original organizers chose the chilly date to protest Roe v. Wade, which was decided on January 22, 1973. Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022; a summer day seems particularly welcome as attendees trudge through the snow. But the March is not easily moveable — nor should it be. Besides the march itself, there is a whole ecosystem of conferences, rallies, and networking events for pro-life advocates and students who gather in the nation’s capital every year. Much of the pre-filmed programming focused on the newly launched State Marches for Life. High-quality footage of last year’s Pennsylvania March for Life — which began in 2021 — spanned massive screens during a break in between speakers.
While Roe may have been overturned, the work of the March is not yet over.
The president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, Jeanne Mancini, told me, “We work for the day when abortion is unthinkable. . . . Overturning Roe took so many decades, and culture change takes a long time, so we are here for the long run to build a culture of life.”
But the organizers have not lost sight of the new political battle surrounding abortion: legislation at the state level. After a prayer led by Bishop John Abdalah, a member of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) opened the rally. He quoted the English Catholic author, G. K. Chesterton: “America is the only nation founded on a creed.” That creed was put forth by the Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Independence: “That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Johnson stated, to the cheers of the crowd, that “our rights do not come from our government; our rights come from God.” The Speaker called upon Americans to reach towards “the better angels of our nature,” a phrase famously used by President Abraham Lincoln in his first inaugural address, and protect life. Johnson noted that he himself is a product of an unplanned pregnancy, and that he is grateful for the choice his young parents made.
The theme of the 2024 March for Life is: “With every woman, for every child.” Many of the speakers — including Jean Marie Davis, who directs a pregnancy resource center in Vermont, and popular Christian leaders Pastor Greg Laurie and Cathe Laurie — offer women real, material support and care in all aspects of motherhood.
Groups of Catholic high-school students were easily distinguishable in the crowd by their matching beanies representing their school colors. About 100 students from St. Francis High School in Traverse City, Mich., repped their navy blue and gold with youthful exuberance. Perched atop each other’s shoulders, they clamored to get a better view of the stage (and a memorable group photo). For many of the students, this was their first march; after 14 hours on a coach bus, the March served as a massive field trip for their Theology of the Body class.
Two middle-aged women, Debbie and Donna, with Israeli flags draped over their shoulders, held a sign representing the Hope of Israel congregation in Charlotte, N.C. — a Messianic Jewish community. While both women have long supported the pro-life cause, this was the first March for Life they had attended in person.
Among a sprawling, red-capped group of undergraduates were two freshmen from Liberty University, Leah and Allie. Liberty sent about 20 charter buses full of students to D.C. Neither Leah nor Allie had been to the March before, but they both expressed firm belief in its mission.
“You see a lot of young people, especially today, who aren’t standing for life. It’s important that we get that representation out here, so others know that there are some people in this generation, and future voters, who are standing for life.”
When asked if the Dobbs decision has energized a new generation of young people to support life, their response was quick.
“One hundred percent. . . . It’s up to us to stand up for what we believe in.”
Two young women from Arkansas, Abigail DeJarnatt, 23, and Allie Paris, 19, caught my eye as they were holding signs that brought attention to their state ballot. Arkansas, which banned abortion except to save the mother’s life in a medical emergency, is currently one of the most pro-life states in the union. A pro-choice group with the misleading name “Arkansans for Limited Government” has proposed a constitutional amendment that would expand access to abortion into the second trimester. DeJarnatt and Paris hope that conservatives and Christians in their state will become aware of the pro-choice ballot initiative being pushed by Arkansans for Limited Government and vote against it.
Although only 23 years old, DeJarnatt has already founded a Christian ministry called Counteract to advance the mission of supporting women and their babies.
“Our hope is in Jesus, not in policy. Seeing all of this unfold is amazing, but it comes down to hearts and minds and real conversations with real people.”
As the pro-life movement continues its mission to foster support for human life at all stages, this year’s theme — which calls for a new paradigm of care for all women, one that takes into account their hearts, minds, and bodies — is particularly timely.
To all braving the winter weather today, we salute your efforts.