By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Thousands of Louisianans are expected to pack downtown areas across the state the next several weekends for pro-life marches and rallies:
— Baton Rouge, Jan. 20
— Shreveport/Bossier City, Jan. 27
— Alexandria/Pineville, Feb. 3.
The Louisiana Life Marches are a chance for different denominations, ages and ethnic and racial backgrounds to march together and pray to declare their opposition to the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in 1973.
The theme for this year’s marches is “Every Life Deserves A Lifetime.”
According to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, preliminary numbers for 2016 show 8,972 abortions took place, an average of 25 per day. The total represents a decrease from the 9,362 abortions reported in 2015 and 10,211 abortions reported in 2014.
“We are excited about spreading the good news of the pro-life message at the 2018 Louisiana Life March events across Louisiana,” said Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Ben Clapper . “We believe that every human life deserves a lifetime, and no matter a person’s condition, age, or location, they deserve our protection. If we, as the people of God, do not stand up and protect the great gift of life that God has blessed us with, who will? Together, we can take one step closer to an abortion-free Louisiana this January at the Louisiana Life March events.”
All three marches are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and last until noon.
The march in Baton Rouge will begin in the grassy area outside the State Capitol building and finish at the downtown riverfront Levee Green.
Further north, the Shreveport/Bossier City will start at the Boardwalk area in Bossier City, crossing over a bridge before ending in Shreveport’s Festival Plaza.
The final march will begin at Louisiana College in Pineville and end at the amphitheater in downtown Alexandria.
The Louisiana Life Marches will feature pro-life supporters from various denominations and organizations, reflecting the diversity of support from sponsors: Louisiana Baptist Convention, Louisiana College, Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association, Louisiana Right to Life, Louisiana Family Forum, Ark-La-Tex Crisis Pregnancy Center, Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops, United Pentecostal Church of Louisiana, Heart of Hope Ministries, the Knights of Columbus, Baton Rouge Right to Life, the Susan B. Anthony List, Caring to Love Ministries and Louisiana’s Concerned Women for America.
For more information on how to attend one of the marches or to download promotional material, visit prolifelouisiana.org.
