Cold and snow did not deter Knights from around the country in joining thousands of peaceful protestors Jan. 19 on the National Mall, where the March kicked off with a rally at noon.
While last year’s March emphasized the overturning of Roe, organizers and speakers this year focused on developing a culture of life on the state level and within local communities, especially through increased support and expansion of pregnancy resource centers.
Welcoming people to the rally, March for Life president Jeanne Mancini explained, “The theme for the March for Life this year is ‘With Every Woman, For Every Child.’ Because that is the heart of what the pro-life movement is about: helping mothers and babies fully, humanly, flourish.”
Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, participating with his family, other Supreme Officers and members of the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors, commended Knights for their efforts to do just that.
“In every state, Knights of Columbus are at the forefront, supporting mothers and their babies,” the supreme knight said. “Being pro-life means being pro-woman and pro-child, and women deserve better than abortion. … In the wake of the Dobbs decision, the Knights will continue to work in their communities with mothers and their children and remind our nation’s lawmakers that life is a precious gift worth protecting.”
Lifesaving help for women and their babies is available at an increasing number of pregnancy resource centers, many supported by Knights of Columbus. More than 3,000 centers across the U.S. offer services that range from baby supplies and parenting classes to medical care, housing and adoption support.
Through the Order’s Ultrasound Initiative, which began in January 2009, and its ASAP (Aid and Support After Pregnancy) program, introduced in June 2022, Knights have funded more than 1,790 ultrasound machines and raised more than $7 million to support these centers.
“We need to make sure that Americans understand what this movement is really about, that we do support women who are pregnant, in any way that we possibly can,” said Jeffrey Lance, deputy grand knight of The Catholic University of America Council 9542, who led the Pledge of Allegiance before the rally. “Being a Knight is all about charity. It’s all about giving back to others who need it and also about building up that fraternity and support.”
An active presence at the March for Life each year, Council 9542 raised more than $1,000 for ASAP through a baby bottle drive in the program’s first year. The council’s pro-life work helped it win the Outstanding College Council Award in 2023.
Lance and his fellow CUA Knights were joined at the march by college Knights from George Washington University, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Providence College and other schools.
“There’s still so much work to be done, especially at the state level, so it’s important that everyone still shows up to this march and makes their voices heard,” Lance said.
Oregon State Deputy Kenneth Anderson has attended the Walk for Life in San Francisco several times, but this was his first time attending the March for Life in D.C. Coming from one of the most pro-abortion states in the country, Anderson felt encouraged to persevere in the fight for life with his brother Knights in Oregon.
“Our second principle of the Knights of Columbus is unity,” he said. “This whole concept of a March for Life is really dependent on that unity. The more people that we can bring to these marches, the stronger a witness we can have.”
Anderson will be calling on state officers and brother Knights around the state to be present at the Oregon March for Life on May 18. The March for Life Education and Defense Fund’s state march initiative will hold demonstrations in 16 states across the country this year and plans to bring marches to all 50 states over the next seven years.
“With very little to no restrictions on abortion in Oregon, that puts the Knights of Columbus in a place where there’s a lot of work to do,” he said.
For almost as long as the March for Life has existed, Virginia Knights have served as its marshals, leading the March banner and directing people along the proper route.
Joel Levesque of St. Ambrose Council 8403 in Annandale, Virginia, has marshalled at the March for about 10 years and is always inspired by the number of young people who participate. For years, he brought his own children to the March to educate them about the issue of abortion and the dignity of the unborn child.
“Where else do you as parent get something like this, a tool like the March for Life, to inspire your kids to support life?” Levesque said. “It’s great for them to see that they’re not alone in voicing support for the unborn child.”
“You cannot be here and help but be inspired,” Supreme Knight Kelly said. “That’s why Knights of Columbus continue to march and commit ourselves to building a culture of life. We’ve been here for more than 50 years, marching with young people, with women and children, and with people — from every demographic of society — who believe in the dignity and worth of every human life.”
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CECILIA ENGBERT is a content producer for the Knights of Columbus communications department.
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