March for Life: With Every Woman, for Every Child

Fifty years ago, out of one of the darkest moments in American history, a nationwide movement was born. A year to the day after Roe v. Wade wiped out protections for nascent life in every state, 20,000 Americans spearheaded by Nellie Gray held the first March for Life to send a message to Washington, D.C.: Uphold life, the first of human rights.

Few, if any, anticipated that it would take half a century to reverse Roe and restore our right to protect unborn babies and their mothers. The march became an annual event. Along the way, the crowd of marchers would grow to hundreds of thousands from every corner of America, and would include everyone from U.S. presidents to many of those who formerly supported abortion – or had abortions – and had their hearts and minds changed.

It has now been a year and a half since the Dobbs victory. Twenty-four states protect the unborn in law. Some might ask, why do you still march?

In reality, the end of Roe was only the beginning of restoring life in America. As long as any child anywhere is threatened by the violence of abortion, or any mother is targeted for exploitation by the abortion industry, our work isn’t finished. The ultimate goal was not to score a one-time legal victory – essential as that was – but to make abortion unthinkable. And we still have a long way to go.

This is the reason behind the 2024 March for Life theme: Pro-Life: With Every Woman, For Every Child. The factors driving women toward abortion are as complex as each individual. Nearly 70% experience some form of pressure or coercion, and most would rather give life to their babies if they had more support. The pro-life movement is committed to ensuring that no woman has to endure an unwanted abortion, as though that is her only option.

For decades our movement has built a massive safety net of over 3,000 pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) and maternity homes to serve women, children, and families. Now more than ever, they are stepping up. In 2022, PRCs met with close to a million new clients and delivered more than a $350 million value in vital services – including pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, parenting education programs, diapers, formula and more – at no cost.

In this endeavor, they are joined by more and more states that formally partner with them. In South Dakota, Gov. Kristi Noem has declared 2024 “Freedom for Life Year,” emphasizing the critical first 1,000 days of a child’s life starting at conception, and spotlighting Life.SD.gov, the state’s online hub for pregnant women, new parents, and adoption. In Nebraska, Gov. Jim Pillen also issued a proclamation affirming the dignity of life, supporting PRCs and calling on leaders to advance a pro-life culture. And Mississippi just launched the MAMA app to help connect pregnant moms with a plethora of resources. These are just a few examples.

More than a dozen states specifically fund life-affirming alternatives to abortion – something that 74% of the public supports – in the context of overwhelming support for PRCs regardless of people’s political alignment. This makes it all the more baffling that the Biden administration recently moved to block states from letting PRCs use grants from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, especially after PRCs have bravely endured scores of destructive attacks since Dobbs. Thankfully, Congress is pushing back against this discrimination.

As important as political leadership for life is, we should never forget real human lives are at the center of the debate. Women and babies shouldn’t be a political football. Neither should the organizations extending a lifeline and a way out of abortion – we should all be able to rally around them.

The pro-life safety net’s impact is nothing short of transformational, for generations. Jean Marie Davis, who was trafficked across 33 states and suffered decades of unspeakable abuse eventually found herself pregnant with nowhere to turn for help. Desperate and crippled by drug addiction, she found freedom when a domestic violence shelter connected her with a local PRC. Supported by PRC volunteers and staff, Jean Marie was empowered to pursue a college education. She is joyfully raising her son and now works as a PRC director herself, providing the same love and hope for other women that she received.

Maternity homes give women the stability to rebuild their lives without sacrificing their children. Francesca struggled with addiction, homelessness, and abuse. Losing custody of her four children finally sapped her will to live, and she turned to stealing cars and selling drugs. Pregnant with her fifth child and with nothing left to lose, she arrived on the doorstep of Bethlehem House in Nebraska.

Lifted up by the home’s resources and supported by its community of women, Francesca chose life for her son Brandon, completed her college degree, paid off $10,000 in debt, and regained her driver’s license. She received a job promotion and is working towards her next milestone: home ownership.

Had they been pushed toward abortion as a simplistic cure-all, how easily the outcome could have been tragically different for these women and countless others.

At this year’s March for Life, we will recommit to fulfilling the mission we began decades ago. We will stand with those on the front lines in our communities, extending our hand in compassion and walking with our neighbors in their time of need. Together, we will continue championing the value and wellbeing of every woman, for every child.

This article was originally published by RealClearPolitics and made available via RealClearWire.