The ‘March for Life’ returned to Washington DC this past weekend – for the first in-person march since the Covid pandemic began. It was attended by up to 100,000 people, according to various reports from the event. At least 50,000 were expected to attend, organisers stated ahead of the event on Friday.
This was the turnout for this year’s March for Life.
The mainstream media won’t cover this.pic.twitter.com/9nM7umTszD
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 22, 2022
HUGE @March_for_Life crowd today — surprisingly wasn’t any noticeably smaller than in years past. #whywemarch pic.twitter.com/imHdyPXPEw
— Katie Yoder (@k_yoder) January 21, 2022
Katie Shaw, a pro-life activist with Down Syndrome, was one of the speakers at Saturday’s March in the US capital. “We all have an equal life,” she told the packed march.
In her address, the Down Syndrome rights activist emphasised to attendees that each life holds immense value, regardless of ability or disability, size, or stage of development.
“Equality begins at the moment of conception,” said Shaw. “I am proud to be here today to march and show the world that people with disabilities need a chance to live their lives outside the womb.”
“There is a waiting list of babies with Down Syndrome to be adopted, yet 80% of us are aborted. I am broken-hearted to think of all my friends who are not here today because of abortion,” Shaw told the crowd. The activist advocated for adoption, adding: “I think adoption is better than abortion.”
Shaw also told the tens of thousands gathered, “People with a disability or not need to have a chance to show the world God’s plan for them.”
“You and I have been given a chance to fight for equality in the womb. And by working together, we can make a difference in the world,” Shaw implored listeners.
"You and I have been given a chance to fight for equality in the womb. And by working together, we can make a difference in the world." —Katie Shaw, Down syndrome advocate #WhyWeMarch #MarchforLife2022
— Decision Magazine (@DecisionNews) January 21, 2022
On Twitter, pro-life supporters praised Shaw. One person described Shaw’s address as “an absolutely beautiful testimony for why #AllLivesMatter and #EqualityBeginsInTheWomb”. Others described the speech as “a must watch”.
In a post Roe world we could finally see:
Americans with special needs like Down Syndrome- protected ✔️
Loved hearing the amazing Katie Walsh yesterday @March_for_Life! pic.twitter.com/et1gZxFdUE
— Alison H.Centofante (@AlisonHowardC) January 22, 2022
Before Shaw gave her address, she told Susan B. Anthony List that “everybody has a soul, no matter how small.”
“We all have an equal life, and it starts in the womb,” she said. “Everybody has a soul, no matter how small.”
“Having a disability or not,” Shaw continued, “should not matter” when it comes to having the right to life.
Susan B. Anthony List noted that, unfortunately, a diagnosis of a disability is often a reason for an abortion to be carried out. In the UK, official statistics show that 90% of babies prenatally diagnosed with Down Syndrome are routinely aborted.
In advance of Saturday’s March for Life, Gript carried a story outlining a bombshell New York Times report showing that “the vast majority of noninvasive prenatal tests are inaccurate.”
The New York Times investigation found that predictions for some abnormalities made by such tests proved to be incorrect between 81 and 93 per cent of the time.
On the heels of the investigation, many people took to social media to share stories of receiving an incorrect prenatal diagnosis – and being pushed towards abortion by doctors.
On social media, one parent who received a false positive wrote:
“This happened during my second pregnancy. Upon giving us upsetting news based on the results from one of these tests, our doc said, “Whatever you decide to do, we don’t judge here.” My baby was born 6 months later. Absolutely perfect.”
In 2020, Shaw told EWTN that she became a pro-life advocate “because of God’s calling to tell everyone Psalm 139:14: ‘I am fearfully and wonderfully made.’”
Shaw told the Catholic media outlet: “My Catholic faith keeps me strong knowing God is behind me.”
Shaw, who serves on the Board of Down Syndrome Indiana, has met with politicians including former US president Donald Trump, and is an active lobbyist for pro-life legislation, particularly legislation prohibiting abortion for babies diagnosed with Down syndrome – who can be aborted without time limit in some states across the US, uniquely on the basis of their disability.
Trump, who spoke in person at the March for Life in 2020 – and appeared via video link in 2018 – sent a message of support to the annual event.
“As you gather today for the March for Life, I am with you in Spirit!” he told attendees.
NEW!
President Donald J. Trump:
"As you gather together today for the March for Life, I am with you in spirit!" pic.twitter.com/wWsRpT3g1a
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) January 21, 2022
Fr Mike Schmitz, well-known Catholic priest, author, speaker, and popular podcast host was also among speakers headlining the event.
Fr Mike Schmitz at the March for Life rally in Washington DC 😍 pic.twitter.com/GVHUVuPoh7
— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) January 21, 2022
Fr Schmitz, whose ‘Bible in a Day’ podcast was named Apple’s top podcast in 2020, received a massive reaction. He told the March for Life Rally that ‘every person matters’.
“Every child matters. Every woman matters. Every person matters,” Father Schmitz stated.
“I think we‘re here because abortion, what it’s done is broken our hearts. And I know so many people here, you’re standing here because you know the dignity of human life. And so many people are among us because this story is part of your story, because you found yourself at one point in a place where it seemed like life was an impossible choice,” he said.
“And so I know that we‘re surrounded by men and women who have chosen abortion. Listen, you need to know you’re supposed to be here. You matter, you belong here. No matter what your past is, you are still loved. You need to know this. You are still loved and you still matter.”
Struggling to maintain his composure at times, a clearly emotional Father Schmitz went on to share a recent conversation he had with a woman he helped persuade not to abort her unborn baby 12 years ago.
“She said, ‘I thought I hated my baby. And I realised these many years later, I didn‘t hate my baby. I hated the circumstances in which I found myself. I didn’t hate my baby. I was ashamed of myself,’” Father Schmitz said.
“That young woman, 12 years ago, she gave her son to a couple who adopted him and have loved him. And he‘s blessed their life. And they’ve blessed his life. I‘ve met him. He’s an incredible young man,” Father Schmitz said.