Friday marked the 37th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion.
Several supporters held signs modeled after stop signs that read “Stop Abortion Now,” others displayed personalized signs.
Organizer and Right to Life chairman Dennis Corley said the local rally — one of several held across the country on the anniversary — is held to “re-energize the members” and to make public what movement supporters feel is important because “sometimes it gets lost.”
“It’s been going on for 37 years and still we have that decision in the forefront because it’s allowing the deaths of pre-borns,” he said after the noon rally, held on Jefferson Street between Fifth and Sixth streets. “This helps those already involved,” but also may attract others to the cause.
New Life Church Pastor Tim Parish was one of a handful of speakers introduced by Corley. He led a large group in prayer and said the rally represented those “who stood up for life and the salvation of life.”
Other speakers included 40 Days for Life representative Tammy Stayton who told a story about her mother who contemplated abortion in 1972 — one year before Roe v. Wade — but eventually changed her mind. Stayton said she was able to be at the rally Friday because of that decision. “Every life has value,” she told the crowd.
Jenny Hutchinson, an active member of the 40 Days group — a focused pro-life campaign promoting prayer and faith through fasting and peaceful activism — held a sign that read “Pray to End Abortion” and said she believes abortion is a “crime against humanity.”
“We’re here standing and speaking for the 50 million children that are not here and have no voice. We’re here to remember them,” she said after the rally.
Whereas most in attendance held signs, Michael Lauer wore a self-made 10-foot long rosary, wrapped around his torso, made of small foam squares with images that he created painted depicting religious and pro-life images.
“I believe prayer can defeat any foe that you come up against,” he said. “I pray for the people that have survived abortion and the ones that haven’t.”