Virginia had its first-ever state March for Life Wednesday following an extreme late-term abortion push from Gov. Ralph Northam and other state Democrats over the past few months. The crowd estimates for the event were in the thousands.
Two months ago the state legislature vetoed legislation from Del. Kathy Tran (D) that, she initially said in a now-viral video, would’ve permitted abortion after the onset of labor. She later claimed that she “misspoke.” Gov. Ralph Northam worsened the situation in an interview with WTOP where he argued that babies could be left to die after birth.
“It’s done in cases where there may be severe deformities, there may be a fetus that’s nonviable,” Northam said of third trimester abortions. “So in this particular example, if a mother’s in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen. The infant would be delivered, the infant would be kept comfortable, the infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.”
During the rally Wednesday, Melissa Ohden, a survivor of an attempted saline abortion, recounted her tale of being saved by a nurse who was “unwilling to just leave me to die despite the demands to do so” when she was left gasping for air on a table after the attempted procedure.
“Is this what this looks like to be comfortable,” she wondered, referencing Northam’s comment, “I would love an answer to that question.”
Jeanne Mancini, president of the national March for Life, also spoke at the rally. She told those gathered that “even most pro-choice Americans will admit that aborting a seven-pound baby just because it’s not yet been born is wrong.”
According to the most recently available Gallup polling from June, only 13 percent of Americans support abortions in the third trimester.
Some of the speakers shared very personal stories, including state Sen. Bill Stanley (R) who recounted that he and his wife lost their daughter hours after her birth at 24 weeks. Doctors had advised them to abort her.
Virginia State Senator Bill Stanely shares the story of his beautiful daughter, Grace. #vamarchforlife pic.twitter.com/EEDBADGPqx
— March for Life (@March_for_Life) April 3, 2019
“She fought for life,” he said, “she fought for three and a half hours for life and she passed in our arms and we named her Grace because God had given us this grace."
The event was sponsored by the March for Life along with the Virginia Catholic Conference, the Family Foundation and the Virginia Society for Human Life.
Some of the marchers shared their reasons for participating in the event.
Pro-life supporter explaining why she is here today! #VAMarchforLife pic.twitter.com/MByNbEAlgL
— Susan B. Anthony List (@SBAList) April 3, 2019
Why do you march for life? #vamarchforlife #whywemarch pic.twitter.com/dxGehPHGgU
— March for Life (@March_for_Life) April 3, 2019
Thank you, Governor Northam, for waking people up to the extremism of the pro-abortion lobby. - Virginia resident, Kendra #vamarchforlife pic.twitter.com/Vfnwus4mxG
— March for Life (@March_for_Life) April 3, 2019
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