45th Annual March for Life

Abortion survivor and pro-life advocate Gianna Jessen will be the featured speaker for the 45^th Annual March for Life, set for 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, in Little Rock at the State Capitol. The annual march is sponsored by Arkansas Right to Life.

Jessen’s live birth was the product of a failed abortion in 1975. Two months premature and weighing just two and a half pounds, she spent her first couple of months in a hospital. Eventually, she entered the foster care system and was adopted.

“On what would have been the 50^th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, we march for life!” said Rose Mimms, executive director of Arkansas Right to Life. “We march to remember the lives lost and to rededicate ourselves in the ongoing work to protect innocent human life in our state and nation.”

The march marks the 50^th anniversary of the Jan. 22, 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States, as well as the June 24, 2022, Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturned Roe v. Wade, returning the abortion issue to the state legislatures. In Arkansas, the ruling ended abortion immediately due to Act 180 of 2019.

The march attracts thousands of Arkansans from across the state, including churches and families, to participate in a peaceful, prayerful and powerful remembrance of the millions of unborn children who have lost their lives to legal abortion. The march will not be canceled due to weather conditions.

“We expect a good turnout of the Arkansas Constitutional officers, members of the Arkansas Congressional delegation and Arkansas General Assembly who are invited to attend,” said Mimms.

“As we celebrate the fact that Arkansas is a pro-life state and unborn babies are safe from abortion today, we recognize that the demand for abortion is not over and our work to protect and defend all life is more important than ever to reverse the culture of death in our society,” said Mimms. “We still face tremendous opposition as we work to protect the lives of the unborn.”

Staging of marchers will be along Capitol Avenue, beginning at State Street. At 2 p.m., the march will proceed down Capitol Avenue — then join together on the steps at the front of the State Capitol for a short program.

Andy Mayberry, president of Arkansas Right to Life, will serve as the master of ceremonies. Other participants include: Paul Roberts, pastor of East Union Baptist Church, Hensley; Daniel Allen of North Little Rock will perform; and the Knights of Columbus will present the Honor Guard.

For more information, contact Mimms at (501) 663-4237 or email communications@artl.org.

— Arkansas Right to Life is the state affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee the oldest and largest pro-life organization. For more information, visit artl.org.