The 43rd Annual March for Life, sponsored by Arkansas Right to Life, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 17, in Little Rock. The march marks the 48th anniversary of the January 22, 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States.
The observance is an event that attracts thousands of Arkansans from across the state including churches and families to participate in a peaceful, prayerful and powerful remembrance of the millions of unborn children who have lost their lives to legal abortion.
“As we mark the rank as the No. 1 pro-life state in the country we recognize that our work is not over as long as unborn babies are still killed from legal abortion in our state,” said Rose Mimms, executive director of Arkansas Right to Life, adding, “We still face tremendous opposition as we work to protect the lives of the unborn.”
Staging of marchers will be along West Capitol between Battery and Wolfe Streets behind the State Capitol. At 2 p.m. the march will begin at Wolfe Street and continue West to East on West Capitol where marchers will split into two groups – one to the right and one to the left – then join together on the steps at the front of the State Capitol for a short program.
Andy Mayberry, president of Arkansas Right to Life, will serve as the master of ceremonies and encourages all participants to remember recommendations for masks and distancing to prevent the spread of COVID 19.
Participants in the program are keynote speakers, Monica Wood of Little Rock, and Charlisa Campbell of North Little Rock; as well as Father Eric Polmeier, pastor of Christ the King Catholic Church in Little Rock, and Rev. Chad Meeks, associate pastor of Cedar Heights Baptist Church in North Little Rock. Music selections will be performed by Rita and DeWalden Frazier and their daughter, Promise.
Also invited to attend are Gov. Asa Hutchinson, First Lady Susan Hutchinson, Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin, U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton, U.S. Representatives Rick Crawford, French Hill, Steve Womack, Bruce Westerman, state constitutional officers and members of the Arkansas General Assembly.