Students and Baton Rouge community members marched from the Old State Capitol to the State Capitol for the third annual Louisiana Life March on Saturday to connect pro-life Louisiana citizens and advocate against abortion during the month of Roe v. Wade’s 40th anniversary.
“We want to send a message out to our state and nation that we need to strive for an abortion-free Louisiana,” said Kacie Hampton, programs and communications director for the Louisiana Right to Life Federation.
Among the prominent persons and organizations present were the Knights of Columbus, 40 Days for Life, Archbishop Gregory Aymond, Sen. David Vitter, Rep. Valarie Hodges, Silent No More Awareness and The Hippocratic Resource.
The University group, Students for Life, had a strong presence at the event.
“We are finding out that more youth are pro-choice than they have been in the past,” Hampton said.
Elizabeth Pendleton, president of Students for Life and University studio arts senior, said she believes this cause is more than gathering around a common interest, but about “making a difference, informing people and helping people.”
“It’s showing our government this is what our people want,” Pendleton said. “Especially because a lot of us are actually youth, we want to show that the youth do care and we believe in this cause.”
Pendleton said the rally gave hope. Working the pro-life movement can be discouraging at times, she said, but the rally provided a sense of support within the community.
Bee Vo, computer science junior, attended the event with Christ the King Catholic Church.
“It shows how many people who live in this state stand up for human rights,” Vo said.
All speakers at the event encouraged the shared sense of hope. Vitter said the youth are not just leaders, but examples.
“If we can keep training the youth, they will move forward,” Vitter said.
Pro-life sentiments were widespread at the event, though not shared by all. Though few in number, pro-choice supporters made an appearance as well.
Pro-choice sympathizer and Baton Rouge resident Lori Halzorson gathered with other women to hold signs as the march approached the Capitol. Halzorson said no one was with a particular group, but were citizens expressing their voices for the other side.
The pro-choice demonstrators aimed to not engage or “change any minds” and to maintain a peaceful atmosphere, Halzorson said. When the group wanted to move with the marchers toward the Capitol, police stopped them.
“We were told we were not allowed on the Capitol. When I asked if it was illegal, [the police] said no, and that he was just letting us know,” Halzorson said.
The rally ended with a speech from Jeanie McAndrew Holmes on behalf of Silent No More Awareness, providing testimony of post-abortive stress disorder.
