By Kathleen Gilbert
January 19, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A nationwide surge of pro-life advocates gathered to march, rally, speak, and pray in countless events last weekend in celebration of the National Sanctity of Life Day on Sunday. President Bush issued a pronouncement calling for the Sanctity of Life Day last week, as one of his last act acts as president.
Many marched in commemoration of the 36th anniversary of legalized abortion through Roe v. Wade in smaller versions of the national March for Life, which is expected to draw several hundred thousand to the nation’s capitol Thursday.
Here is just a sampling of the events that sprang up in U.S. cities last week:
ARKANSAS, Little Rock: Thousands of pro-lifers took to the streets of Little Rock in the city’s own March for Life. https://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=78676&catid=2
CALIFORNIA, Redding: Volunteers planted 3,000 crosses to symbolize lives lost by abortion. https://www.thereporter.com/ci_11483617?source=rss
FLORIDA, St. Augustine: 1,000 gathered to hammer 4,000 crosses into the ground, representing the number of children killed by abortion daily in America. https://staugustine.com/stories/011809/news_0118_042.shtml
KENTUCKY, Lexington: About 100 people gathered for the third annual Vigil for Life. https://www.kentucky.com/179/story/663204.html
IOWA, Sioux City: An abortion survivor spoke at the Pro-Life Interfaith Prayer Memorial:
https://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2009/01/19/news/top/9ccac1b23906793786257543000567d5.txt
ILLINOIS, Chicago: Pro-lifers shared their story in the city’s 4th annual march for life. https://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/01/march-for-life-chicago-roe-wade.html
Galesburg: https://www.galesburg.com/news/x1898853060/Student-urges-education-about-abortion-pro-life
MAINE, Augusta: 300 participants were urged to pray for “a pro-life conversion of President-elect Obama” as they marched and joined hands around the State House. https://www.bangornews.com/detail/97493.html
MONTANA, Billings: 200 rally participants gathered at Yellowstone County Courthouse Sunday to march, share stories, and pray. https://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/01/19/news/local/34-roe.txt
NEVADA, Carson Valley: A pro-life rally featuring guest speaker Pastor Wayne Hoag was expected to attract some 200-300 participants. https://www.recordcourier.com/article/20090114/NEWS/901139973/1062&ParentProfile=1049&title=Pro-life%20rally%20may%20draw%20hundreds
NEW YORK, Staten Island: Organized for Life members braved frigid temperatures to go door-to-door with a petition against the Freedom of Choice Act. https://www.prolifeblogs.com/articles/archives/2009/01/groundbreaking.php
NORTH CAROLINA, Raleigh: “The Catholic Diocese of Raleigh kicked off the north Carolina Right to Life Rally in downtown Raleigh.”https://www.news14.com/content/local_news/triangle/603755/pro-lifers-kick-off-right-to-life-rally/Default.aspx
NORTH DAKOTA, Bismarck: ND Right to Life hosted “Sanctity of Human Life Week”. https://www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=26069 https://www.kxmc.com/News/321622.asp
OHIO, Cleveland: The city’s first “March for Life” drew 200. https://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/01/clevelands_first_march_for_lif.html
Bascom: Pro-lifers marched and prayed in bitter cold down SR 18 in a candlelight procession. https://www.advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/511893.html?nav=5005
OREGON, Medford: https://www.ktvl.com/news/life_1188659___article.html/abortion_roe.html
Portland: 7,000 gathered in Pioneer Courthouse Square for Oregon’s largest pro-life rally ever. https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/01/welcome_rally_for_life_moves_t.html
PENNSYLVANIA, Towanda: About 100 people participated in the Pro-Life Walk and Rally in Towanda. https://www.thedailyreview.com/articles/2009/01/19/news/tw_review.20090119.a.pg1.tw19prolife_s1.2240058_loc.txt
TEXAS, Corpus Christi: Families held white crosses symbolizing faith and the lives taken by abortion in a march to the local abortion clinic. https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28711900/
Dallas: https://www.star-telegram.com/238/story/1148807.html