Voting Resources
San Antonio March for Life and Rally for Life, January 20, 2024
On January 20, 2024, over 200 enthusiastic prolife advocates marched through downtown San Antonio in the annual SA March for Life. Even with temperatures ranging from 38 to 41 degrees, the participants loudly proclaimed they were for life. The marchers bring to light the plight of the unborn. The march and the rally that followed were sponsored by the San Antonio Family Association, (SAFA).
The one-mile march began in the heart of San Antonio in front of the San Fernando Cathedral and ended at the cathedral. The march paused at the Alamo cenotaph to hear remarks by Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller who reaffirmed the heroes of the Alamo in their fight for freedom and life. He read the famous Travis Letter to those in attendance:
Fellow Citizens & compatriots-
I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna - I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man - The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken - I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls - I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch - The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country - Victory or Death.
William Barret Travis.
Why March for Life? In a landmark decision on June 24, 2022 the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution of the United States does not give a federal right to abortion, therefore sending the decision to each individual state. It did not ban abortion. The fight to defend preborn children is no longer at the federal level, but at the local level.
Patrick Von Dohlen, chairman of the march, made it very clear that “evidence of this (continuing fight) is the City of San Antonio having passed a $500,000 line item in the city’s 2024 budget on September 14, 2023, for the direct funding of abortion under the title “Reproductive Justice Fund.” If the City of San Antonio gets away with this act, many other progressive-run cities in Texas will follow suit.”
The Rally for Life following the march was held at main plaza with the San Fernando Cathedral, one of the oldest cathedrals in Texas, in the background lending an affirmation that the Catholic Church stands firmly for life. This year’s rally featured an array of inspirational speakers. Without these truth tellers, we would be missing what we have to do to stop the killing of the unborn.
The keynote speaker was Bishop Emeritus Michael Pfeifer of San Angelo. He spoke of the “new Death Chambers” which are our homes. It was sad listening to his message stating that the home should be a place of refuge instead it has become a “Death Chamber.” His message leaves no doubt that we are in a culture of death and it must change to a culture of LIFE. What the bishop was referring to was the surge in using the abortion pill to abort at home.
He told the audience, “The fastest growing common death chamber in our country for murdering the precious unborn is not a clinic or a hospital but the family home. Our home, which should be the sanctuary for the caring and protection of children, is now with the easy availability of abortion pills, has become a major center for abortion. Various statistics show the rapid increase of this deadly place and the Guttmacher Institute state that over 50% of abortions now happen by way of the abortion pill. According to Acu Council, "more unborn babies are killed every year through chemical abortion pills than by any other type of abortion. President Biden is intentionally violating federal law by expanding the use of these deadly drugs - including sending them through the mail." To read his entire message go to lifeissues.net | The most common "death chamber" for killing the unborn (COPY AND PASTE)
I always enjoy listening to Fr Will Combs from St. Mary Magdalen Parish give the invocation as he lifts all of us in prayer. He’s very passionate about saving the unborn. Pastor Dr. Robert Welch from Park Hills Baptist gave the benediction. He said that Satan will always be around and that we have to be relentless in our faith. A young lady, Lauren Koch, sang ‘Holy Spirit’ acapella. God blessed her with such a beautiful voice.
Anias King spoke on behalf of Texas Right to Life. Texas Right to Life has partnered with San Antonio Family Association in the lawsuit against the City of San Antonio regarding the “Reproductive Justice Fund.’ TRL has donated $40,000 toward the lawsuit and SAFA has pledged $60,000. Please see it in your heart to donate towards this fund to SAFA.
Other speakers present were Michael Knuffke co-chair of the March and Rally for Life and CEO of SAFA, Julie Clark candidate for congressional district 23, John Lujan state representative for district 118, Marc Whyte San Antonio City Councilman district 10 who was the only council member to vote against funding of the Reproductive Justice Fund. Tere Haring from the Allied Women’s Center received a posthumous Life Hero award on behalf of one of her staff members, Mary Thomas, who had dedicated her life to the prolife movement.
The second Bishop John Yanta Life Hero award for 2024 went to Sonja and Bill Harris, St. Joseph Honey Creek parishioners, for their arduous labor and heroic virtue exhibited in protecting life, both born and preborn. They have committed their lives to protecting, defending, and promoting the immeasurable value and dignity of human life in their home, parish, and in the public square.Alejandra Dipp Gonzales the co-moderator for the Rally for Life helps bring the youth to the march and rally. Dr. Cathy Nix, former recipient of the Life Hero award sang Amazing Grace to end the rally. The March for Life and Rally will be held next January 18, 2025. Make plans to attend now.
