Richmond, Va., Feb 8, 2019 / 15:00 pm
The first Virginia March for Life will be held on April 3, 2019, outside of the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond.
The Virginia March for Life is being organized by a partnership between The Family Foundation, Virginia Catholic Conference, the Virginia Society for Human Life, and the national March for Life.
In a statement, March for Life Defense and Education Fund President Jeanne Mancini said that she was "delighted" to partner with these organization, and will work to "bring together and mobilize countless pro-life Virginians who are appalled by the past few weeks' pro-abortion activity in their beloved state."
On January 29, Virginia Del. Kathy Tran (D-Fairfax), the lead sponsor of the Repeal Act, was questioned in a legislative committee session about her bill, which would have removed pro-life safeguards, and reduced the number of doctors needed to approve of a third-trimester abortion from three to just one.
During questioning, Tran admitted that there was nothing in the bill that would stop a woman from procuring an abortion while she was in active labor if she felt her mental or emotional health would be at risk.
The following day, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) appeared on radio station WTOP and seemed as though he was defending the law. Northam said that if a baby were to survive an abortion, it would be given "comfort care" during a "discussion" to determine if any other medical care would be administered. Many people, including the bishops of both of Virginia's dioceses, said that Northam's rhetoric was promoting infanticide.
"Given such an extreme pro-abortion agenda, it is imperative for all of us to stand together for the rights of the unborn. Every human life should be valued and protected," said Mancini.
Although the Virginia March for Life was officially announced after abortion became a hot topic in the commonwealth, March for Life Director of Grassroots and Digital Strategy Bethany Peck told CNA that the event had "been in the works for many months" and that plans became were formalized in January.
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"We feel it cannot come at a better time given Virginia's recent comments and proposed legislation promoting pro-abortion extremism," said Peck. The date of April 3 was chosen because it is the same day as the veto session in the Virginia legislature, Peck explained.
This means that all lawmakers will be at the capitol that day "and will not be able to miss the March for Life," she said. Peck told CNA she expects hundreds of marchers will come to Richmond, but said it was too early to give a formal estimate.
The Virginia March for Life will be prefaced by a rally at 11 a.m., with the march beginning at noon. Speakers at the rally will be announced at a later date.
