Lt. Governor Sears Gets Emotional at March for Life!

Filling Richmond Capitol streets from Broad to Main, several thousand Virginians turned out from all corners of the state this week to speak up for unborn babies and vulnerable women at the sixth Annual Virginia March for Life. Lt. Gov. Winsome-Earle Sears' voice broke with emotion as she addressed the crowds before they marched, thanking them for their courage: "This is what it takes. You have to stand and be counted." 

Joined in the march by both Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares, the crowd was joyous in joining their voices together to "march with every woman and for every child." While celebrating the second year of the march since the overturning of Roe, participants also grasped the reality of the work still needed to change hearts and minds—while boldly standing against attempts to turn Virginia into the abortion capitol of the South.  

Abortion extremists currently leading the General Assembly want to "draw desperate women across state lines for their abortion rather than for hope and a future, not to mention sanctioning abortion up until birth," warned Victoria Cobb, President of the Family Foundation. "That's not what the Commonwealth people seek. Virginians rallied to keep that level of extremism out of our Constitution and to remind people that the pro-life community offers diapers, formula and housing for women who find themselves in an unplanned pregnancy."

The march was just one of several events comprising the entire Virginia Pro-Life Day 2024 on Wednesday, which began with a gathering of pastors across Virginia for a prayer breakfast supporting life at the Richmond Convention Center. Bishop Patrick Wooden of the Upper Room Church of God in Christ and Pastor Michael Morisi from Family Foundation's Church Ambassador Network encouraged the pastors to speak boldly for life and to inspire their congregations to do the same.

Just a few rooms over, hundreds of Virginians gathered together in constituent groups and then made their way to the General Assembly to meet with their Delegates and Senators, imploring them to oppose legislation that essentially turns Virginia into an abortion-tourism destination, as well as oppose ongoing efforts over the next two years to enshrine unlimited abortion into the state constitution. 

Everyone then rallied at the bell tower at 11 a.m., where legislators, clergy, and pro-life leaders addressed the thousands in attendance. Bishop Patrick Wooden started things off with prayer for state leaders' eyes to be opened to the truth of life, and for the entire country to understand that the unborn are made by God in His image. Liberty President Dondi Costin echoed that theme, reminding marchers of the words of Psalm 139 and the Declaration of Independence. Other speakers emphasized the need to come alongside women who may feel alone or vulnerable during pregnancy: Delegate Nick Freitas shared his own story of how he was an unplanned pregnancy, but his mother chose to value his life over the fears she faced. He emphasized having conversations among families. “What do your children, what do your grandchildren believe about this issue?" he asked. “We have a battle legislatively. We have a bigger battle culturally.”

Closing the rally, Bishops Burbidge and Knestout prayed, saying that Christians are called “to turn in faith, hope, and love toward the Lord of Life.”

After joining the march, Gov. Youngkin posted, "I was proud to join thousands of the pro-life generation attending the Virginia March for Life for a third year." Marking a "first" for this year's march, Family Foundation's local Speak Up! Virginia teams were strongly represented from all across the Commonwealth, coming in busloads and carrying Speak Up for Life banners, signs and stickers.

Thank you to each and every one of you who support our efforts— and those of thousands of likeminded Virginians— to be a voice for babies in the womb and a visual demonstration of God's unconditional love for women and children. Until abortion is both illegal— and unthinkable— we will never stop speaking up for life!