By David Fleet

Editor

From atheists, to high school students to children—area residents that flocked to last weekends March for Life in Washington D.C. described a massive diverse crowd descending on the National Mall.

The day long event has been ongoing for more than four decades following the 1973 Supreme Court ruling Roe vs. Wade that, along with Doe v. Bolton, legalized abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy. The decision, written by Justice Harry Blackmun and based on the residual right of privacy, struck down dozens of state anti-abortion statutes.

For the past eight years John Dobias, 61, an Atlas Township resident, and about 45 others from the Immaculate Conception Parish in Lapeer, have made the day long bus trek to Washington, DC.

“The National Mall near the Washington Monument was full—an estimated 600,000 attended,” said Dobias. “It was a very peaceful march. All done with prayers and singing. We have very little opposition or other protesters near us that we see.”

Accompanied by his family, Vice-President Mike Pence spoke for about 10 minutes, emphasizing the Trump administration’s commitment to the cause.

“The message is we are here to save babies and stop the genocide,” said Dobias. “This march was very positive and there were many youth including high school and college students in the crowd. There were children in the march and on the bus with us, too—we are sending a very positive message of love and dignity for all to the world.”

Security at the march was high, said Dobias.

“There were snipers on the rooftops and many police,” he added. “Due to the vice-president as a speaker, the Secret Service was everywhere. However, we were never harassed and we always felt safe at all times. If we could send a message out to the world just keep praying for life—the clinics, doctors and staff where abortions are done. Just consider that since Roe v. Wade, 50 million babies have been murdered.”

Denise Gabryel, 55, a former Ortonville resident, also attended the march.

“Someone from our family has gone to the march for the past 14 years,” she said. “Since we have started attending, two things have happened: the number of participants has grown, especially the younger people, and science is now confirming that life starts in the womb—it’s a new body with a different DNA than the mother’s. It’s the woman’s body, but the baby is an individual, too. We have now put faith and science together.”

Gabryel said the massive crowd was not all faith-based.

“I was marching beside an atheist,” she said. “Many, many faiths were there because they know that abortion is wrong—it’s not like it was years ago. All faiths, all walks of life join together on the march.”

Security was very tight, she said.

“They searched everything,” she said. ” The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) was there since the vice-president attended the march. Over the years I have watched the pendulum swing, hearts needed to be changed and they are. People are far more educated now on the issue of abortion. There are still a lot of women who are angry and hurting out there—we pray for them. It’s about love, about caring for women, babies and families.”