While every day is a great day to be pro-life, this day — that of the March for Life — stands among the greatest.
At the 45th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., earlier this afternoon, hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers who had gathered in our nation’s capitol to call for an end to abortion were addressed by the three highest ranking men in the order of presidential succession: President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.
While the crowds gathered before marching for a rally near the Washington Monument, a satellite rally was held in the Rose Garden and broadcast on jumbotrons on the National Mall.
After welcoming everyone to Washington, DC and to the country’s largest pro-life gathering, Vice President Pence began:
More than two-hundred and forty years ago, our founders wrote words that have echoed through the ages. They declared these truths to be self-evident: that we are, each of us, endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights; and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
He then praised the progress of the pro-life movement over the last forty-five years since abortion was legalized by the Supreme Court. It was this movement, “a movement defined by generosity, compassion, and love,” Pence continued, that one year ago tomorrow “inaugurated the most pro-life president in American history, President Donald Trump.” Pence then gave several examples of the pro-life promises the Trump administration has fulfilled in the past 364 days:
From preventing taxpayer dollars from funding abortion overseas, to empowering states to respect life in Title X, to nominating judges who will uphold our God-given liberties enshrined in the Constitution of the United States, this President has been a tireless defender of life and conscience in America.
Pence concluded with words of encouragement telling the marchers that they are winning because they have love and the one who said, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” on their side:
And I believe with all of my heart, with your continued dedication and compassion, with pro-life majorities in the Congress, with President Donald Trump in this White House, and with God’s help we will restore the sanctity of life to the center of American law.
President Trump then took the stage, also emphasizing the love of the pro-life movement and the 2018 March for Life theme, “Love saves lives”:
The March for Life is a movement born out of love. You love your families, you love your neighbors, you love our nation, and you love every child, born and unborn, because you believe that every life is sacred, that every child is a precious gift from God.
Later in his 10-minute speech, the President lamented the fact that Roe v. Wade has resulted in the United States having some of the most permissive abortion laws in the world: “In the United States, it’s one of only seven countries to allow elective, late-term abortions, along with China, North Korea, and others.” He also pointed out that although our country has such permissive abortion laws, “only 12 percent of Americans support abortion on demand at anytime.”
Trump then praised the House’s Pain-Capable bill, calling “upon the Senate to pass this important law and send it to my desk for signing.” He also mentioned improvements in religious liberty and conscience rights:
On the national day of prayer, I signed an executive order to protect religious liberty. I’m very proud of that. Today I am announcing that we have just issued a new proposal to protect conscience rights and religious freedoms of doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals.
Concluding with the words, “We are with you all the way. May God bless you, and may God bless America,” the President assured pro-lifers of his continued support.
Back on the National Mall, Speaker Ryan was full of energy and enthusiasm as he greeted the crowd, “What a crowd! This is so exciting!” Joined on stage by nearly forty pro-life Senators and Congressmen, Ryan asked:
Do you know why the pro-life movement is on the rise? Because truth is on our side. Life begins at conception.
Do you know why the pro-life movement is on the rise? Because science is on our side. Just look at the ultrasounds that have shown us more about the pre-born child than ever before — how they develop, how they react, how they feel pain.
And most importantly, the pro-life movement is on the rise because we have love on our side. We believe every person is worthy of love and dignity. That is why the pro-life movement is on the rise.
Ryan contrasted the pro-life movement with the pro-abortion movement saying, “You are marching with joy and hope, not with anger and hate. You don’t see that on the other side, do you?”
Speaking for his fellow pro-life colleagues in Congress and their work, Ryan assured the crowd that their representatives “strive to make [their] time in Congress a march for life itself.” Finally, he thanked the marchers for the love they demonstrate.
With the support of the President, Vice President, and Speaker of the House — not to mention the hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers who marched today and countless more nationwide who were with them in spirit — the pro-life movement has many reasons to be optimistic as it begins 2018.
You can watch Vice President Pence’s and President Trump’s full remarks below:
Photo credit: Screenshot via YouTube
