OTTAWA, Ontario, May 7, 2021 (LifeSiteNews) — Despite COVID-19 restrictions still in place, organizers of Canada’s 2021 March for Life say that given “the urgency” of addressing the human rights “injustices of abortion and euthanasia,” they will forge ahead with an in-person rally and march in Ottawa on May 13.
“Despite COVID-19 and related restrictions, we do still have a constitutional right to peacefully demonstrate, as delineated in our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” stated Canada’s National March for Life in a statement. “Given both the urgency and importance of addressing the human rights injustices of abortion and euthanasia, we are choosing to exercise this right in as safe and prudential a manner as possible.”
Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) is the organizer of the event, which last year was held virtually, due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
A year later, COVID-19 restrictions are still in place in Ontario, banning large gatherings outdoors.
CLC says that along with the in-person rally and march, there is a “full program of virtual events” to be held between May 9 and 16.
The in-person rally will start at 12:30 p.m. EST on May 13, on the steps of Canada’s Parliament Hill in Ottawa, with the march planned to start at 1:15 p.m.
The march will return to Parliament Hill at around 2 p.m. for “Silent No More Awareness Testimonies.”
Debbie Duval, National Capital Organizer for CLC, said in a May 5 statement that at its core, the National March for Life “is a protest against the greatest human rights injustice of our age” — abortion and euthanasia — and because of this, “we have a duty to hold our legislators to account.”
The March for Life has advised all of those who choose to come to the in-person rally that “every attendee must assess what level of risk they are personally willing to assume” by coming to the event.
“Please be advised of both the legal and health risks associated with attending the National March for Life in Ottawa. We will do our best to mitigate those risks,” noted the event organizers in a statement. “If you do decide to attend the rally and March for Life, please act respectfully and responsibly, and follow all relevant health measures, outlined here.”
PETITION/PLEDGE UPDATE (5/13/2021) -
The 2021 Canadian National March for Life took place yesterday in Ottawa with hundreds in attendance.
Please take time to READ LifeSiteNews' latest article on the Canadian March for Life.
And, please remember that registration for the March for Life's online youth conference - taking place TODAY (5/14), starting at 3pm EDT - is STILL OPEN.
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The 2021 Canadian National March for Life, organized by Campaign Life Coalition (CLC), will forge ahead this year in a "hybrid" format with a week-long series of online pro-life events, as well as a "scaled-down" in-person rally followed by a march in Ottawa on May 13th for local grassroots organizers.**
Please CLICK HERE to see the schedule of events.
Then, please SIGN and SHARE this pledge to support Canada's National March for Life pro-life activities this week!
Due to the COVID crisis, the March organizers are emphasizing the need for people to spend the week leading up to the March to "raise [pro-life] awareness in their families and communities."
Some of the suggested activities include: putting up pro-life signs in one's home or one's car; wearing pro-life clothing; spreading the pro-life message - and, the theme of this year's march, 'You are not alone' - on social media, on the airwaves, and even by pro-life chalking on the sidewalks; and, devoting time praying for an end to abortion and euthanasia in Canada.
As Josie Luetke, Youth Coordinator for CLC, said to LifeSiteNews: the "pandemic doesn’t change the fact that human life is not protected in Canada."
And, that is why everyone must continue to advocate for the protection of life, from conception till natural death.
Luetke said the 2021 events will be "even better" than last year’s.
"If you enjoyed the Virtual National March for Life last year, I assure you that you’ll find our 2021 events even better, as we’ve been working very diligently over the past few months to bring you an extremely engaging and powerful schedule, with elements that will appeal to everyone," said Luetke.
Luetke said she is hoping there will be a good turnout for the online youth conference, noting that registration for the youth conference — which is free of charge — is still open.
"The youth conference was indispensable in my own development as a pro-life activist, and the virtual one we have planned is every bit as educational and inspirational," said Luetke.
Please SIGN and SHARE this pledge to support Canada's National March for Life pro-life activities this week!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
'2021 Canadian National March for Life on May 13 to be in-person and online' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/2021-canadian-national-march-for-life-on-may-13-to-be-in-person-and-online
National March For Life 2021 Website - https://marchforlife.ca/
MARCH FOR LIFE WEEK SCHEDULE OF EVENTS - https://marchforlife.ca/march-for-life-week-schedule/
**CLC also advises all who wish to attend in-person to be aware of the potential legal and health risks involved. If you are thinking about attending in-person, please CLICK HERE to read CLC's important advice about the necessity to comply with their directives while at the march.
***Photo Credit: CLC YouTube video screen shot
The March for Life has asked people not to attend if they are feeling ill, suspects they might have COVID-19, or have recently arrived from out of country.
The organizers say they have made this request for the “sake of fellow attendees (some of whom may be elderly), and the sake of the organizers, namely Campaign Life Coalition, and our ability to hold future marches.”
There will be an online Rose Dinner on May 13, emceed by David Bereit, the founder of 40 Days for Life and a pro-life speaker, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for the event can be purchased by clicking HERE.
In addition to the in-person rally and march and other virtual events, there will also be an online youth conference on May 14, which is free of charge.
For a full schedule of events including online speakers for the entire MFL, you can click HERE.