RICHMOND, Virginia (LifeSiteNews) — On January 20, just days before the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and in week two of the state’s 2022 General Assembly, every delegate and senator in Virginia was brought a rose to commemorate lives lost to abortion.
Directly before the General Assembly’s afternoon session, young life advocates visited every legislative office in the Pocahontas building to distribute the pro-life movement’s classic symbol, ensuring that Virginia lawmakers are reminded of the unborn as they begin voting on bills that could protect or violate innocent lives.
With a legislature now led by a pro-life governor after multiple terms of pro-abortion leadership, the first General Assembly of 2022 has the potential to overturn extreme abortion legislation passed in recent years in the Commonwealth.
“These last two sessions our pro-life accomplishments have disappeared,” said Louise Hartz, a former Virginia Society for Human Life president and a member since 1967.
“Hopefully we are able to restore some of them these next two years. [The Rose Day] is a small reminder, but it can also educate the new members and their aides. We have to stay present, [and] have staying power.”
Enacted by VSHL more than 30 years ago, Rose Day at the capitol remains a part of that presence.
Reversing Abortion Agendas
In 2019 Virginia Del. Kathy Tran (D) introduced an act to remove ultrasound requirements from abortion and allow abortion providers to administer late-term abortions up until birth. Tran was supported by then Gov. Ralph Northam (D), but her bill was tabled by members of the House.
On October 1, 2021, Virginia became one of a handful of states to allow doctors and nurse practitioners to prescribe deadly chemical abortion pills via telemedicine. The legislation, passed in 2020, allows approved practitioners to prescribe an abortive drug cocktail after a single telemedicine appointment, without a requirement of follow-up care.
Abortions in Virginia can receive public funding if a child is determined to have “fetal abnormalities.” Taxpayers pay more than is federally required for abortions in the state.
Pro-life delegates and senators are working to reverse radical abortion trends this session, introducing acts defunding abortion further, requiring informed consent, and protecting pain-capable and abortion-surviving babies.
“These laws would begin to restore what we lost in recent years,” said Olivia Gans-Turner, VSHL president. “They are good bills that can save lives.”
Pro-life constituents across the state are planning to congregate in the General Assembly on February 9. The event, coined Defending Life Day, will bring citizens into their representatives’ offices to advocate for life. District captains are still needed to rally their local communities and lead guided meetings with legislators. To sign up, visit the Virginia Pro-Life Day website.