SW News: A group of pro-life leaders rallied hundreds of people to the Lincoln Memorial steps in Washington DC, on Saturday to commemorate the first anniversary of the repealing of Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States fifty years ago. They said they were committed to the fight for complete legal protection for the unborn from the moment of conception in all 50 states.

Kristan Hawkins, Students for Life of America president, said they are living in a divided state of America where a person’s location determines if they will survive the abortion gauntlet or not. Hawkins said the nation needs to transform into an America where every human being is recognized as the unrepeatable person they are with equal rights and equal protection under the 14th Amendment guaranteed, not because of what state their mother resides in but if they are perceived to be convenient, or the circumstances of their conception.
She said the 14th Amendment’s equal justice clauses should be equally applied to persons in the womb. Hawkins said abortion is a federal issue and every presidential contender must acknowledge the 14th Amendment that all human beings are human persons and deserve equal protection of laws.

Lila Rose, pro-life group Live Action's president, referred to the 14th Amendment as one of the most beautiful notes in their national song and lamented that in the case of preborn children, they have failed to extend these protections. Rose said it is inconceivable to selectively deny rights to one group of human beings solely based on their location: the womb.

Mike Pence, Republican presidential candidate and former vice president, said he would stand for the babies and their unalienable right to life. He also vowed that he and his family would never rest until they restored the sanctity of life to the center of American law in every state in the land.

He said that pro-life supporters should advance the cause for adoption in the US. Pence also hailed pro-life activists for their work, highlighting that it took 50 years of innocent life loss and broken hearts to bring about the Dobbs v Jackson ruling.

"It is amazing to think that we are here in this historic place, after 50 years of innocent life loss and broken hearts. After 50 years of prayer and advocacy and a march on a dark anniversary every January," Pence said.

"One year ago today, because of your work and prayers, the Supreme Court of the United States reversed Roe v. Wade and gave them a new beginning for life," he added.