By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Thousands of Louisianians will stand together for life at five pro-life marches throughout the state in the coming weeks, according to the lead organizer.
“In 2024, our life marches will share that the pro-life community and the state of Louisiana are ready to support every pregnant and parenting woman regardless of the circumstances she may be facing,” Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Ben Clapper told the Baptist Message. “We know that women considering abortion are often under immense pressure, or even coercion, by partners, friends or loved ones, and resort to the dangerous abortion pill online through black-market distributors. They need to know that there is support across Louisiana in the form of private and public agencies. In January, we can let Louisiana know that we are here for women.”
“We are here for her” is the theme for this year’s events, which will once again bring together pro-life supporters of different denominations, ages and ethnic backgrounds to continue to raise awareness about abortion concerns, he said.
The Supreme Court on June 24, 2022, overturned the landmark case and returned “the authority to regulate abortion … to the people and their elected representatives.” However, pro-life supporters must continue to march so that every mother and baby knows they are loved and supported, Clapper said.
The life marches will kick off Jan. 20 with two events: Participants will gather at 10 a.m. in the Boardwalk area of Bossier City, crossing over a bridge before ending in Shreveport’s Festival Plaza. Further south, the Baton Rouge march will begin, 10 a.m., in the grassy area of the Capitol and end in Galvez Plaza on the site of the Old State Capitol building.
The next day, pro-life supporters will gather for a march, 1:45 p.m., on the campus of First Baptist Church, West Monroe, and end in Anna Grey Noe Park of Monroe.
On Jan. 22, participants will gather for a candlelight vigil, 6 p.m., in Veterans Memorial Park at the Lake Charles Civic Center for the march to the downtown courthouse.
Central Louisiana will host the final Life March, Feb. 3, beginning, 10 a.m., on the campus of Louisiana Christian University in Pineville and ending in downtown Alexandria.
For more information, visit the Louisiana Right to Life site or call 866.463.5433.
