Andy Drozdziak
Disruptive pro-abortion groups were unable to prevent 7,000 pro lifers from making a big impact in this year’s March For Life-and organisers now have their eyes set firmly on hitting back at plans to introduce abortion up to birth for any reason.
As peaceful marchers approached Parliament Square last Saturday, they found that pro-abortion groups had established themselves at the front of the stage, potentially preventing the March For Life from carrying out their talks and presentations. With marchers being pushed physically, and minimal police support, organiser Isabel Vaughan-Spruce told police that it could be ‘chaos’.
A video showed a masked pro-abortion supporter shouting in the face of a teenager, Rufus, and apparently informing in that he is marching with the ‘far right’ before being escorted away by police. “I am not a far right activist,” Rufus said. “Every human has great value-any human deserves to live.”
However, the marchers carried on and the pro-abortion supporters dispersed. “Those who were in the thick of it seemed to cope really well”, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce said. She added her belief that the pro-abortion supporters are ‘worried’. “They have seen what has happened in America (where Roe v Wade was overturned in 2022). They’re really worried that they are going to lose something they want to keep,” she told the Universe.
“We have seen Roe v Wade overturned in the US; we have seen Malta fight a hard battle to keep their country abortion free. This can’t just be a once a year effort – we must make it a priority in our lives and create for ourselves a personal strategy today.”
Despite a national rail strike, police estimated that 7,000 pro-life attendees of all ages, including a large contingent of youth, this year’s March for Life in Parliament Square which followed the theme ‘Freedom to Live’.
Catholic bishops John Sherrington, Richard Moth and John Keenan, took to the stage alongside Monsignor Keith Newton of the Ordinariate. Various Anglican priests were present along with regular supporters Rev Calvin Robinson from the Free Church of England, and Regan King from the Angel Church.
One speaker, Lois McLatchie-Miller from ADF UK (Alliance Defending Freedom), emphasised the role of men in abortion, saying that the “mantra of ‘my body, my choice’ has resulted in men abdicating their responsibilities and leaving women to deal with pregnancies alone. Another speaker, Ellie, told the crowd of her deep regret of the three abortions she had.
Scott Klusendorf, president of The Life Training Institute urged attendees to enter into conversations with those around them on abortion, but reminded them that ‘we need to have the confidence to make our case persuasively‘.
Isabel Vaughan-Spruce shared her experience of being arrested for praying silently near an abortion centre. “On the second time I was arrested I was told my prayers were an offence.” she said. ‘I’ll tell you what is offensive-that our country has the highest ever abortion figures, 100,000 of them annually being repeat abortions and the only response we see happening in or government is a clamp down on those who peacefully offer alternatives to pregnant women.”
Isabel Vaughan-Spruce believes the experience shows the pro-life movement ‘is growing like never before.’
“People from all walks of life are being alerted to the horror of abortion and the long term effects on the whole family,” she said.
“More and more people are recognising how this contradicts our most fundamental values and is an offence to basic human decency both for the mother and the child. We cannot be complacent or let this momentum slip – now is the time for everyone to do their part.”
Ms. Vaughan-Spruce pointed readers to the March For Life website for further information, with 27th October being set aside as an Abortion Act Anniversary awareness day in Westminster and a Rethink Abortion Day in London on 11th November (booking required) followed by a meeting for those wishing to become part of a new March For Life Mission Team. The website can be found at http://www.marchforlife.co.uk/