The 2015 Texas Rally for Life was an enormous success. Thousands of Texans from across the state, estimated at between 3,000 and 6,000, marched to the south steps of the Texas Capitol to stand for life. The Texas Rally for Life commemorated the 42nd anniversary of the tragic Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973, which made abortion legal throughout all nine months of pregnancy. In the wake of Roe, legal abortion in our nation has claimed the lives of more than 57 million unborn children and has hurt countless women and men.
Texas Pro-Life Primer
Texas Alliance for Life sponsored a Pro-Life Primer held in the State Capitol before most of the day began. We briefed attendees on the pro-life movement’s legislative successes, the status of HB 2, and our legislative goals for the newly begun 84th Legislative Session. Representatives from different regions of Texas also briefed attendees on the state of the pro-life movement in each specific region.
Ministry Fair
After the briefing, most attendees went to the Ministry Fair on the corner of 18th Street and North Congress Avenue. This year 44 organizations joined the Host Committee to help put on the Texas Rally for Life. Each organization who joined the Host Committee was invited to have a booth at the Ministry Fair from 12:30-1:30. Hundreds of people flocked to get information. Dozen of buses dropped off eager pro-lifers from many parts of the state including Abilene, Corpus Christi, Houston, Fort Worth, Midland, Pearland, San Antonio, and other cities.
March to the Capitol
After the Ministry Fair, thousands of marchers began to lineup at the starting point behind Austin Catholic Diocese Bishop Vasquez, the Knights of Columbus, and dozens of students from John Paul II High School from Corpus Christi carrying the Texas Rally for Life banner.
Thousands of Texans marched to the Capitol with signs and shirts with pro-life messages such as “My Generation Will End Abortion” in blue.
The Texas Rally for Life Program
The Texas Rally for Life began with an invocation by Bishop Vasquez.
The event was wonderfully emceed by Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood abortion facility director. Abby left Planned Parenthood five years ago and has been involved in the pro-life movement ever since. She has been an invaluable resource to passing effective legislation to reduce abortions and defund Planned Parenthood in Texas.
The first speaker was the First Lady of Texas, Cecilia Abbott. Mrs. Abbott addressed the crowd by reading a personal letter from Governor Greg Abbott, and she then commended the crowd for standing for life.
The letter reads “To Joe Pojman, the Texas Alliance for Life, and all who gather here to celebrate life: I extend my thanks to all of you for your tireless efforts this past year. Because of you, Texas leads the nation in defending those who do not have a voice. Because of you, House Bill 2 became law last session. Because of you, innocent life is protected after five months, the unborn are spared pain, and safety standards for women are improved.”
The second speaker was Claire Culwell. Claire shared her story of surviving an abortion attempt on her life before she was born. Claire also explained that if she had not been graced to live through her mother’s abortion, then her own daughter would not be alive today.
Joe Pojman, Ph.D., executive director of Texas Alliance for Life, spoke next and gave an update on the pro-life successes that Texas has seen in recent years, but Pojman also stressed the importance of the work that remains to be done in Texas.
Next, Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush addressed the crowd. He thanked everyone for speaking up for the voiceless and for continually protecting the most fundamental right to life.
Cynthia Wenz was the final speaker at the Texas Rally for Life. Cynthia is CEO of The Source for Women, a network of three pro-life reproductive health centers in Houston. Cynthia spoke about her commitment and dedication to ending abortion in her lifetime.
Finally, Pastor Corey Tabor of Full Life Community Church in Austin offered the Benediction.
Heather Gardner beautifully closed out the event by singing “America the Beautiful.”
You can find a list of media coverage and more photos from this event by visiting the Texas Rally for Life website.
Mark you calendar on Saturday, January 23, 2016, for next year’s Texas Rally for Life at the Capitol in Austin.
Listen to the entire event here.