MFL / Photo by Claire Caton
CV NEWS FEED // Despite the frigid weather, an estimated 150,000 pro-life people gathered from all over the country to participate in the 52nd March for Life Jan. 24, according to ABC News.
The route for the 2025 March was different than it had been in the past several years when it began at the Smithsonian museums and ended at the Supreme Court. This year, pro-lifers walked 2.5 miles from the Washington Monument to the U.S. Capitol.
During the March, various participants prayed rosaries and sang hymns such as “Ave Maria” and “Hail Holy Queen.” People carried signs that read a variety of pro-life statements, including “Choose life,” “Even a fetus is a child of God,” and “Human rights begin at conception.” Parents brought children to march with them, advocating for the unborn.
For many participants, it was their second, third, or maybe even 30th time going to the March. But the event drew newcomers too, such as one college student who came from the tip of Florida.
“I was encouraged to come here, because my school supports the pro-life [movement] so much it changed my heart in many ways,” Ave Maria University student Grace Frye told CatholicVote in an interview at the March. “Now I get to be here with all my best friends to march for life. And that’s just really inspiring to me.”
As she reflected on the reason she felt drawn to attend, Frye explained that one can feel alone as a pro-lifer, so the March for Life can be impactful to witness.
“It’s very inspiring just seeing all these people out here for the Lord and for the babies,” she said.
At the pre-March rally in the morning, participants heard from many prominent speakers at the opening ceremony, including keynote speaker Bethany Hamilton, Vice President JD Vance, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and House Speaker Mike Johnson. In a recorded message, President Donald Trump encouraged the marchers in their pro-life stance.
Frye shared that Vance’s address was especially moving given his life history, coming from poverty and a difficult family situation.
“I think he’s the perfect person to speak on it because he is somebody who didn’t have ideal life circumstances, but he still sees his life and every human life as valuable,” Frye said.
On Jan. 23, the day before the March, Trump, who was inaugurated just three days prior, issued a pardon for 23 pro-life activists who were convicted.
Frye was celebrating this news.
“I just have to say, praise be to God,” she told CatholicVote. “It feels like we’re getting our country back and that they care about liberties and our rights. I just feel excited and hopeful for our future.”
