News
Featured Image

(LifeSiteNews) — Thousands of Canadians pro-lifers who were part of of 269 Life Chains took to the streets in cities and towns Sunday to protest the murder of over 100,000 babies every year by abortion.

Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) told LifeSiteNews that the 2021 event saw the “highest number of Life Chains” in recent years.

“Those are 269 communities who received the pro-life message, and even though we know the mainstream media is loath to cover our witness, word of mouth spread, with passersby taking to social media to share their observations,” said CLC’s Youth Coordinator Josie Luetke. “Every local organizer and zone captain is deserving of a round of applause for the effort they put into making this event happen.”

Rain Tolentino attended the Life Chain in Stoney Creek, Ontario. In speaking with LifeSiteNews, Tolentino said that the 2021 Life Chain felt like a “community in a way, because we were unified by our belief that all life has value, and that even the smallest members of our society should be protected.”

“It was very inspiring to see others arrive and start holding up their pro-life signs. My brother was super shy at first to hold up his sign, but as cars honked and people gave thumbs up, he got really enthusiastic about it,” said Tolentino.

Sarah Fernandes attended a Life Chain in Toronto. She told LifeSiteNews that there was a large turnout at her location and that she was “moved to see so many young people like myself standing up for life.”

“It gave me hope and reassurance that I wasn’t alone. Some people from my school were actually not too happy that I peacefully stood at a busy street corner and those who didn’t know my pro-life beliefs before actually started to distance themselves from me. While it hurts to know that I have lost some friends, I will always be proud that I had the courage and strength to face a busy street full of cars and people that wouldn’t like me standing out there,” said Fernandes.

Kim Headley attended the Life Chain in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and told LifeSiteNews that she held up a sign saying “abortion kills children,” which received some positive responses from passers-by.

“I was surprised to see how many people were honking and giving us a thumbs up. It was really great to get out in my own community with other pro-lifers,” said Headley. “It gives me hope that if we keep doing these in our communities and build friendships and relationships with like-minded people, we can make a difference. It can sometimes feel like Canada is a lost cause, but every time I go out it gives me hope that we can continue to change hearts and minds on abortion.”

Luetke told LifeSiteNews that while overall attendance at this year’s Life Chains was not at pre-COVID levels, it appears there was “an uptick from last year’s, which is encouraging.”

“Some pro-lifers speculate that it’s time to develop a new alternative to Life Chain, and so I would challenge them to achieve the same reach that this event has. Life Chain will not, on its own, change the culture in Canada — that requires day-to-day action — but it serves as an annual reminder to the Canadian public that because this injustice persists, so will the pro-life movement,” said Luetke.

Life Chain says CLC is a “peaceful and prayerful pro-life witness held annually” and is for all ages.

The event consists of pro-lifers standing at intersections across North America, “silently praying for an end to abortion for an hour while holding signs with messages like: ‘Abortion kills children,’ ‘Abortion hurts women,’ ‘Adoption, the loving option,’ and ‘Life, the first inalienable right.’”

Life Chain events also took place in the US on Sunday.

Attendees at previous Life Chain events have received opposition for their pro-life witness.

In 2018, a man was caught on video roundhouse-kicking a young female CLC staff member at a Life Chain event in Toronto. As the incident was filmed, the attacker was identified and charged with assault.

Life Chain events in Canada have been held every year since 1990, with the event first taking place in the United States in 1987, as “a peaceful and prayerful demonstration in support of the inherent dignity of every human being, from the moment of conception until natural death.”