(LifeSiteNews) — The Ohio March for Life on October 5 was the state’s first since Roe’s reversal and was met with renewed zeal from pro-lifers.
The event took place in the capital city of Columbus and had an estimated 4,000 participants.
“Standing amongst thousands of pro-lifers gathered demanding an end to abortion was a truly uplifting moment,” Elizabeth Whitmarsh, director of communications for Ohio Right to Life, told LifeSiteNews in a statement. “Ohio’s March for Life will serve as an ongoing reminder for state legislatures that Ohio is undeniably pro-life and that abortion has no place here. It is time to rid the Buckeye state of this injustice and protect every Ohioan’s right to life — born and unborn.”
“The overturning of Roe this past June absolutely energized the movement to show up to the March in larger numbers,” she added. “We understand that after 49 years, Ohio is finally able to uphold the right to life from the moment of conception and we will not stop until that happens.”
Peter Range, the executive director of Ohio March for Life, posted on Twitter after the event.
“The @MarchforLife in Ohio was absolutely amazing yesterday!” he wrote. “Glory to God! Every life, every life, my friends, is worth living! Protect the preborn, defend the right to life! Aid moms and dads in need. Build the culture of life.”
The @March_for_Life in Ohio was absolutely amazing yesterday! Glory to God! Every life, every life, my friends, is worth living! Protect the preborn, defend the right to life! Aid moms and dads in need. Build the culture of life. @ohiolife pic.twitter.com/xUtYXB6Kux
— Peter Range (@PeterRange12) October 6, 2022
“Will you lead with love? Will you love heroically?” asked president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund Jeanne Mancini, one of the speakers at Wednesday’s event. “Will you win this battle with love? Because that is what the pro-life movement is about: It is about love.”
“Will you lead with love? Will you love heroically? Will you win this battle with love? Because that is what the pro-life movement is about: It is about love.” –@jeannemfl, @March_for_Life https://t.co/3D1TVLmLqY
— March for Life (@March_for_Life) October 7, 2022
Mancini told EWTN in an interview that the National March for Life organization co-sponsored five state marches this year and plans to double that number in 2023.
“Our hope and our goal is over the course of the next five to seven years to be in all 50 states,” she said.
Asked about the national march now that Roe has been overturned, Mancini said, “We know that at the federal level, that there is still so much work to be done either fighting things like [the] Women’s Health Protection Act which would take away the rights of the states to protect life as they are right now.”
She also pointed out that the Hyde Amendment, which restricts the use of federal funds to pay for abortions, will also need to be defended.
“So, yes, we will still be marching at the national level every January,” she said.
The March for Life organization will be announcing its 2023 theme on October 13 and the national march will be held on January 20.
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