25 Years after Roe v. Wade, Tens of Thousands of Pro-Lifers around the Nation Rally for life.

Twenty-five years after abortion on demand became the law of the land, thousands of pro-lifers in every state of the union rallied against the slaughter of the innocents and insisted they will keep fighting until all life is protected.

Members of the "Abortion Generation" born after 1973 feel the effects of abortion on a deeply personal level, losing brothers and sisters and potential friends and classmates to 25 years of "choice." At Idaho's March for Life in Boise January 24, abortion survivor Sara Smith and her mother, Betty, shared their story. Sara survived the abortion that killed her twin brother -- her mother had not known she was pregnant with twins, and refused a second abortion after Sara's survival was discovered.

"Doctors said she would be cut in pieces, have severe bone and tissue damage, and never walk," Betty Smith told the 2,500 pro-lifers gathered at the statehouse. "But here she is, a scholar and a pre-med student and one of the most articulate young ladies I have ever known."

Georgia's annual Together for Life rally January 22 recognized the "Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust" by handing out stickers for those under 25 to wear and gathering them under a "Survivors" banner during the Silent Memorial Walk. Young people also wore "Survivors" stickers at the Walk for Life in Lincoln, Nebraska, January 24. About 4,000 pro-lifers attended the event, which included the launching of pink and blue balloons and a collection of baby items for crisis pregnancy centers. Over 3,000 pro-lifers attended the Rally for Life in Austin, Texas, January 24, including numerous enthusiastic young people. "I was born in 1973, when Roe v. Wade came out," rally participant Kim Moeller told the Austin American-Statesman. "I can identify with all the children who haven't been given a chance to stand on this Earth and live their lives."

At New Jersey's Rally for Life in Trenton January 22, many of the 300 participants were of high school and college age. The energetic crowd heard inspiring words from speakers representing Princeton University, Immaculata High School, a Hispanic pro-life group, and from state legislators, including Clare Farragher, sponsor of the vetoed state law banning partial-birth abortion.

At Florida's pro-life gathering held January 22, Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Keith Arnold announced a $50,000 pledge to help overturn the governor's veto of a partial-birth abortion ban. Rally participants provided a strong visual symbol by laying roses on the state seal that is inlaid in the floor of the state house. Also in Florida, pro-lifers attended a rally and march in Fort Walton Beach January 17 and a candlelight vigil in Daytona Beach and a march through downtown Fort Myers January 22.

U.S. Rep. Bill Archer (R-Tx.) told over 400 pro-lifers at Texas Right to Life of Houston's 25th anniversary dinner January 16 that Congress will give President Clinton one more chance to do the right thing and sign into law the federal ban on partial-birth abortions. Archer received the Celebration of Life Award for his lifelong commitment to the pro-life cause.

South Dakota pro-lifers celebrated their successful fight to implement a partial-birth abortion ban at the Hour of Reflection January 22. Speakers asked participants to encourage their state legislators to support pro-life bills in the upcoming legislative session.

In addition to partial-birth abortion bans, pro-lifers in many states are focusing on passing waiting period and informed consent laws. Arizona right to lifers announced upcoming efforts to pass such laws this year at their March for Life in Phoenix January 18. About 7,000 pro-lifers attended the march.

Rallies at state buildings gave pro-lifers the chance to demonstrate to elected officials their unswerving dedication to life. More than 5,000 right to lifers attended the January 22 March for Life in St. Paul, Minnesota. For the first time, participants were invited inside the capitol rotunda to speak with 63 legislators face to face.

Jackie Schwietz, co-executive director of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, told the crowd that the rotunda gathering sent a clear message to all legislators: "After 25 years of abortion on demand, many of them probably thought the Pro-Life Movement would just quietly go away. Today we have demonstrated that our numbers have only increased and our grassroots involvement has never been stronger."

Pro-lifers also rallied in the state capitals of Oklahoma, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. Many local groups in Wisconsin commemorated Roe with prayer services, marches, ads, and Life Chains.

Pro-lifers demonstrated their unswerving commitment to the cause in states stricken by severe winter weather. Some 200 right to life supporters rallied in Montpelier, Vermont, January 17, braving single-digit temperatures on the steps of the state capitol. Snow, ice, and freezing rain greeted over 150 hardy pro-lifers in Augusta, Maine, January 24 for their annual Hands around the Capitol event.

"The poor traveling conditions forced all of the scheduled speakers to cancel," said Christopher Coughlan, executive director of Maine Right to Life Committee (MRLC). "But we put together a tree lineup of speakers in the minutes before the program!" And thanks to modern technology, MRLC President Bryan Lawrence, stranded in Bangor, broadcast the main address from a television studio.

Alaskans in several cities braved the winter weather to commemorate Roe's silver anniversary. About 200 pro-lifers rallied on the steps of the capitol in Juneau January 22. A small crowd gathered at the state court in Anchorage January 24 to protest several pro-abortion decisions made by the court. In Fairbanks, over 100 right to life supporters marched through the streets of the town followed by a rally at a local church January 22.

Even when the bad weather was rain instead of snow, pro-lifers still ignored the horrible conditions to show their support for life. Over 1,000 right to life supporters rallied in the rain in Salem, Oregon, January 18. Speakers highlighted the connection between 25 years of legal abortion and the recently reaffirmed voter referendum allowing euthanasia in Oregon. Other events in the state included a March for Life in Grants Pass January 18 and candlelight vigils in Bend, Salem, and Medford.

More than 125 people gathered in Chico, California, January 18 to walk the sidewalks in silent prayer as the rain fell. "Approximately 10 minutes into the event, the clouds disappeared, the rain stopped, and the sky was filled with a dramatic sunburst," said Steve Krogh, chairman of the Tri-Counties Pro-Life Council. "Heartfelt prayers were offered that God would likewise lift the spiritual darkness from our' land, stop the flood of tears, and cause the light of truth to shine once again."

On January 22, Californians attended the Rally for Life in Sacramento, a memorial conference in Los Angeles, a march in Santa Maria, and a pro-life fair and service in San Diego.

Several states combined commemorative events with education to bring the "light of truth" to more people. The Rally for Life in Topeka, Kansas, January 22 included a full day of educational displays and workshops, an educational scavenger hunt, opportunities to meet with legislators and watch the state houses in session, as well as a march and rally. About 1,000 people participated in part or all of the day's events.

Pro-lifers came to Honolulu for the first Hawaii Pro-Life Con-ference and Banquet on January 24. Educational displays, pro-life speakers, and a legislative panel discussing the outlook for pro-life issues highlighted the conference.

At the annual Celebrate Life rally in Salt Lake City, Utah, January 22, tables of educational information enabled participants to learn more about life issues. Education was also stressed by speakers at the Sanctity of Life candlelight vigil in Jackson, Wyoming, January 25. Wyoming pro-lifers also attended the March for Life in the state capital of Cheyenne January 24.

In nearby Colorado, hundreds of right to lifers marched in Denver January 25 and heard a stirring speech by Rev. Mel Waters, who thanked his mother for choosing life when she was an unwed girl being pressured to have an abortion. "And I have two young sons who are grateful that she chose life," he told the crowd. Coloradans also showed their dedication at a vigil and prayer walk .in Weld County, a rally in Fort Collins, a Life Chain in Colorado Springs, and candlelight vigils in Boulder, Akron, and Pueblo.

Many states show great creativity in standing up for life. Connecticut pro-lifers brought baby gifts to their rally January 22 at the state capitol in Hartford. Baby booties provided a stirring reminder of the victims of abortion at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, January 17. Pro-lifers created a "LifeTree" by hanging more than 4,000 booties from a tree in front of the North Carolina Legislative Building, representing the 4,000-plus abortions each day in the United States.

Baby shoes were also donated by participants in Cincinnati, Ohio's memorial service January 21, and given to agencies and families in need. Cleveland pro-lifers attended a memorial service and luncheon January 18 and a Youth Rally for Life and candlelight prayer service January 22. Candlelight vigils were held in Shelby County and Eaton. Pro-lifers in Nevada also held a candlelight vigil and rally in Las Vegas January 22.

Legislators received roses from pro-lifers in Virginia, New York, and Missouri. Missouri right to lifers also gathered for a Memorial Prayer Service for the Innocents in Jefferson City, a prayer hour in Old Monroe, and a candlelight assembly in Washington.

As the 5,000 participants in the January 18 Little Rock, Arkansas, March for Life approached the state capitol, a gong sounded every 20 seconds representing the death of an unborn child every 20 seconds in our country. City and county churches in Huntington, Indiana, tolled their bells for five minutes at noon on January 22 in remembrance of the victims of abortion.

In neighboring Illinois, about 400 pro-lifers attended the Rally for Life in Springfield January 18, while others held a Walk for Life and Sanctity of Life Rally in Peoria January 22 and placed commemorative fliers in nine publications in the Clinton County area and a newspaper ad in a Paris newspaper.

Ads taken out in local newspapers and on television proved a very effective way to get the pro-life word out to many people. Right to Life of Michigan is airing three television spots during January, February, and March. Michigan pro-lifers in many communities also participated in candlelight vigils and rallies or traveled to Washington, D.C., for the national March for Life.

Thousands of pro-lifers traveled many miles to attend the national march January 22.

States such as Alabama, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia sent large numbers of people to D.C. Kentucky right to lifers held a breakfast with their congressional delegation before the march, while others attended rallies in Louisville January 22 and in Frankfort January 27.

Louisiana pro-lifers erected "Cemeteries of the Innocents" in many locations across the state. Right to life supporters also attended a luncheon January 17 and pro-life Gov. Mike Foster issued two pro-life proclamations. Gov. Terry Branstad of Iowa declared January 18 Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, while Gov. David Beasley of South Carolina proclaimed January 1998 Sanctity of Human Life Month.

Gov. Beasley's proclamation expressed the feelings of pro-lifers nationwide: "The well being and the future of our country demand that the protection of the innocents must be guaranteed and that the personhood of the unborn be declared and defended throughout the land."