The Pennsylvania Capitol on Monday, March 6, 2023. (Capital-Star file photo)
The fourth annual anti-abortion March for Life will happen in Harrisburg on Monday, with thousands of attendees expected in the capital.
Various pro-life advocacy groups and religious organizations have announced support for the rally and are organizing transit from around the state to attend the events.
The Pennsylvania Family Institute estimated that 6,000 people attended last year’s march. And this year’s will be the first held during a presidential election year since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned of Roe v. Wade in 2022 with the Dobbs decision
“The Pennsylvania March for Life is the largest gathering of pro-life advocates in the state,” said Alexandra Bedner, a spokesperson for March for Life. “We encourage Pennsylvanians to peacefully march and be a voice for the voiceless while advocating for pro-life protections for both women and the unborn. Our presence shows that the pro-life movement is strong, and Pennsylvanians are pro-life.
Abortions are still legal in Pennsylvania up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. After that, abortions are available if the pregnancy would risk the life or health of the mother.
There are, however, some limitations. Patients seeking abortions must receive counseling 24 hours before the procedure. And minors must receive parental consent for abortions in unless they receive a judicial waiver.
“92% of Pennsylvanians want abortion to be legal and accessible, and Planned Parenthood PA Advocates will always fight for them,” said Signe Espinoza, the executive director of Planned Parenthood PA. “While abortion is legal in PA, it’s not accessible and PPPA is working alongside the vast majority, partners, and allies to ensure sexual and reproductive health care freedom is a reality for all.”
Espinoza was citing a recent Franklin & Marshall College poll that found that 38% of Pennsylvanians believe abortion should be legal under any circumstances and that 54% believe it should be legal under some circumstances. It did not, however, break down how restrictive respondents in the latter category thought an abortion policy should be.
But other recent surveys also suggest that a majority of Pennsylvanians, and Americans more broadly, support access to abortion generally.
The issue has been front-and-center in the presidential race, with Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, campaigning on “reproductive freedoms” and blaming former President Donald Trump, the GOP nominee, for more than a dozen states’ restrictive abortion laws.
Trump appointed three of the Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe, which he has boasted about, but said during the Sept. 10 debate with Harris that he favored exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. Trump has repeatedly hedged his position on abortion during this campaign and said he believes the issue should be left with individual states.
Bedner said March for Life does not endorse candidates for public office, but added, “the stakes have never been higher for life than during this general election year. We look forward to pro-life Pennsylvanians uniting just two months before the election to show the strength of the pro-life movement as we peacefully advocate for protections for both women and the unborn.”
Speakers will include anti-abortion activist Mark Houck, who lost a Republican primary earlier this year to represent Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional district.
President of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, Michael Geer, will also speak. The Independence Law Center, a law firm associated with the Pennsylvania Family Institute, has recently made headlines after it was hired by multiple Pennsylvania school districts. The group drafts and advises school boards on policies related to students’ gender expression, what books are appropriate and protecting so-called religious freedom in schools. It has been accused by critics of anti-LGBTQ bigotry.
The Pennsylvania Family Institute did not respond to a request for comment.
State lawmakers, Rep. Marla Brown (R-Lawrence) and Sen. Cris Dush (R-Jefferson) are also listed speakers.
Multiple events will be held around the Capital on Monday, with a concert at 10 a.m., a rally at 11 a.m. and the march itself beginning at noon.
The march will circle the Capitol complex, with the main stage near 3rd and Liberty street, according to the March’s website.
Registration to attend is not required, though it is encouraged by rally organizers.