I Went to My First March for Life 33 Years Ago
It was the fall of 1993 and I was beginning my journey as a pro-life activist with Missionaries to the Pre-born in Southern California when I first heard about the March for Life, with hundreds of thousands of people taking a stand for the unborn.
I knew I had to be there.
I crossed the country in a borrowed van with six friends to get to DC. While the March was the main event, it was the smaller events that most excited me as I couldn’t wait to work with activists convening from all over the country.
I remember that winter being the coldest weather I had ever experienced in my life; when we got to DC the city was basically frozen. I was sitting in a meeting with several pro-life leaders a few days before the March and we were almost disappointed in the fact that the abortion mills we planned to protest were going to be closed due to cold weather.
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For a brief moment we were disappointed until Rev. Pat Mahoney pointed out that God had done the bulk of our work because there would be no abortions that week.
It was amazing that our initial disappointment so quickly turned to joy because we knew life was safe at least for a few days and we had never even set foot in front of an abortion mill. I remember we actually began praying, thanking God for the blessing of cold weather.
I have gone to the March in DC ever since that first cross-continent trip, and for more than 10 years I have also been red-eyeing to San Francisco for the Walk for Life.
Over the years the prayer events that we hold in front of Planned Parenthood killing centers have become so important to those who make the journey to DC or San Francisco. Many pro-life leaders come out early to join the other activists and be a voice for life at the front line of the abortion battle.
Our hearts break as women head into the mills even while we are praying outside, but that alone is proof that we need be right there, praying and protesting.
Among our most fervent prayers is our plea to God to make abortion unthinkable, to change the hearts and minds of the vulnerable women heading into the centers, the misguided “deathscorts” who help lead them into the building like lambs to the slaughter, and the abortion center staffers who have become dehumanized by the gruesome “work” they do every day.
This year, Priests for Life and I have organized six national events of activism and prayer during the days from Jan. 22 through Jan. 24 in DC and San Francisco. Please join us. The schedule of events is at www.ProLifeMarch.org.
Let’s be a voice for those who can’t speak for themselves.
LifeNews Note: Bryan Kemper is the director of youth outreach and street activism for Priests for Life.
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