Thousands of pro-life Ohio residents gathered to support unborn babies’ right to life Wednesday at their state capital for the first ever Ohio March for Life.
Photos and videos from the event show thousands of pro-lifers on the lawn outside the Ohio Statehouse, holding signs that read “Life wins,” “Remember the unborn” “Equal rights begin in the womb” and “Pray to end abortion” before they marched through the streets of Columbus to remind their state about the value of every human life.
“The Buckeye state IS pro-life undeniably!” Ohio Right to Life communications director Lizzie Whitmarsh tweeted from the event. “This is how you build a culture of life!” Ohio Right to Life added.
What an amazing turnout to @ohiolife‘s first #MarchForLife here in the state capitol! Pro-lifers from across Ohio came to show their support for the cause, fantastic work being done. Keep it up!#TeamCarey pic.twitter.com/eVaYBbKZ5O
— Peter Marbach (@OHgop2020) October 5, 2022
Ohio is UNDENIABLY pro-life 🙌🏼
This is how you build a culture of life! #ProLife #EndAbortionOhio pic.twitter.com/9Ztbgnym7v
— Ohio Right to Life #EndAbortionOhio (@ohiolife) October 5, 2022
The march took place after the 100th day since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed states to begin protecting unborn babies from abortion again. Ohio currently is fighting in court to enforce its heartbeat law, which bans abortions once an unborn baby’s heartbeat is detectable, about six weeks of pregnancy.
Click here to sign up for pro-life news alerts from LifeNews.com
If enforced, the law would save tens of thousands of unborn babies’ lives, and a recent poll found public support for the law. In 2020, there were 20,605 abortions reported in Ohio.
Aaron Baer, president of the Center for Christian Virtue, which helped sponsor the March for Life, said protecting unborn babies is a priority in Ohio.
“Ohio is a pro-life state. From the passage of the Heartbeat Bill to the pregnancy centers throughout our 88 counties, Ohio has made protecting unborn children and their mothers a priority,” Baer said ahead of the march. “This year’s March for Life will be a celebration of all we’ve accomplished and a recommitment to serving those in need.”
The rally begins NOW!! pic.twitter.com/7X7pvqA2cb
— Center for Christian Virtue (@CCVPolicy) October 5, 2022
Speakers at the event included Dr. Alveda King, the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; Ruth Cabrera-Henriquez, an Ohio mother who chose life for her unborn baby despite pressure to have an abortion; and Peter Range, executive director of Ohio Right to Life.
“We love, we suffer with, we proclaim the dignity of the human person whether they are crippled, in a nursing home, or unborn,” Range told the crowd.
Jeanne Mancini, president of the national March for Life, who also spoke at the event, said she has been thrilled to see so much enthusiasm for the pro-life cause in Ohio.
“Every voice counts all the more in this historic new phase of the pro-life movement,” Mancini said. “The people of Ohio and the Ohio state legislature will surely witness the devotion and love that motivate their pro-life constituents, and the state’s enthusiasm for a post-Roe America.”
State pro-life leaders also felt encouraged by the large crowd and its enthusiasm.
“Make no mistake Ohio’s pro-life movement is strong and growing. Today’s March for Life sponsored by Ohio Right to Life is just the beginning of what’s to come as we defend and protect life in Ohio,” Michael Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life, wrote on Twitter.
Currently, 15 states are enforcing pro-life laws that prohibit or strictly limit the killing of unborn babies in abortions, and eight others, including Ohio, are fighting in court to do the same. SBA Pro-Life America estimates these state laws are saving more than 138,000 unborn babies’ lives.
