MARCHING for LIFE and VICTORY 2017

by Sonja Harris on February 1, 2017 at 12:54 PM

The theme for this year’s 44th March for Life, held on January 27th on the grounds of the Washington Monument in Washington DC, was ‘The Power of One’, but for all practical purposes ‘Defund Planned Parenthood’ signage was most prominent. The march is held annually on or near the anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion in the USA. Since the 1973 ruling there has been an estimated 60 Million slaughtered unborn babies.

This is my 4th March for Life. I along with my husband attended in 2009, 2013 which is probably the most people at 650,000, and now the 2017. My first March for Life happened while I was out photographing Washington DC sometime in the late 80’s. Thankfully this year the weather was not as cold or snowing like the 2013 march. This time the weather was more cooperative, still cold but in the low 40’s.

The Mexico City Policy was again reinstated by President Donald Trump on January 23rd 2017 in time for the March. He kept his promise to stand for Life to the Evangelical and Catholic supporters. Under the Obama Administration the Mexico City Policy was overturned after GW Bush had restored it.

EXCERPTS: Presidential Memorandum Regarding the Mexico City Policy:

I hereby revoke the Presidential Memorandum of January 23, 2009, for the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (Mexico City Policy and Assistance for Voluntary Population Planning), and reinstate the Presidential Memorandum of January 22, 2001, for the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (Restoration of the Mexico City Policy).
I further direct the Secretary of State to take all necessary actions, to the extent permitted by law, to ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars do not fund organizations or programs that support or participate in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization.

This march was a very exciting time for the Pro-Life movement because for the first time in history we had two people from the Executive Office speak to the audience in person. My favorite lady, Kellyanne Conway, spoke to the crowd in her very honest and sincere manner. She told us that she is a wife, mother, Catholic and counselor to the President of the United States of America AND Pro-Life. Finally, a Catholic in the WH that follows her faith and isn’t afraid or ashamed to speak out.

Vice President Mike Pence also addressed the approximate 500,000 prolifers with his wife Karen and daughter Charlotte by his side. His words were inspiring and gave hope for the future. “Life is winning again in America!” he said and then commented that President Trump stands for the Right to Life! Very moving and very telling of what this administration will bring to our nation, healing by respecting life.

Of course, having the vice president attend the March for Life brought some changes like waiting in a security check line to be scanned. We were also in a more ‘tight’ situation than I had experienced before and I wasn’t able to move about as freely as in previous marches. The musicians, Transform DJs, known for sharing the Gospel of Jesus and defending the pre-Born were first-rate for the thousands of young people and all attending.

We also attended the 35th annual Rose Dinner the evening after the March for Life held at the Renaissance Downtown Hotel in Washington DC. This was our first time and we enjoyed the speakers giving their thoughts on life. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York was the keynote speaker, but it was special guest Kansas Governor Sam Brownback’s comments that made the greatest impression on me.

Governor Brownback was definitely enthusiastic about the future of the Pro-Life movement. He told the attendees that, “We have been on defense for so long, it’s time to move on.” He continued by saying that it’s time to repeal Roe vs Wade and send it back to the states. “This is the time!” he said.

Since there were NO media at the Rose Dinner, even though they were invited, there isn’t a record of the event. The March for Life 2017 received some media coverage, but, sadly, less than the wild, rudderless Women’s March held on January 21. According to ‘Heavy News’ the Women’s March crowd brought only 485,000 while reports on the March for Life 2017 was estimated at 500,000 by ‘USA Today’. The ultra-Liberal media is so slanted that it’s a wonder the writers can walk a straight line.

As Christian conservatives we must understand that the progressives, liberals and Democrats are not only spinning out of control now that President Trump is actually changing the rules, but are convulsing and shaking in place and that means they are in full force attacking the president and his policies and his Pro-Life stance. Now is the time for prayer and action. We can’t go into hiding or be silent. The unborn need our voice more than ever. Stay engaged!