Kansans for Life will hold the annual Rally and March for Life in Topeka on January 21. This year’s theme is United for Mothers and Babies. The day will be full of events including educational workshops for teens and adults, interdenominational worship service, and a rally on the south steps of the State Capitol Building.
The event commemorates the anniversary of Roe V. Wade that legalized abortion. Since that day in 1973, over 65 million babies have been aborted in the United States.
This year, much attention will be placed on passing the “Value them both amendment” to the State Constitution in the Kansas legislature and then by Kansas voters.
“On April 26, 2019, the Kansas Supreme Court took power from voters and found—created—a nearly unlimited ‘right to abortion’ in our 1859 State Constitution,” states Mary Kay Culp, Director of KFL. Prior to this ruling, through widely supported limitations, Kansas abortion rates had been reduced by 43 percent since 1999 and partial-birth abortions had been completely banned. “Essentially, women and their preborn babies have now been abandoned to an unregulated abortion industry,” Culp says.
Because of the Kansas Supreme Court’s April 26, 2019, ruling, existing bans on late-term and taxpayer-funded abortions are now in danger of being rendered unenforceable. Furthermore, the ruling allows violent live dismemberment abortions to continue and threatens these lifesaving limits:
- Parental consent for minors seeking an abortion
- Informed consent, alerting women to potential health risks
- 24-hour waiting period
- Abortion clinic sanitation and safety standards
To do this, the pro-life community will need the support of a two-thirds majority in both the Kansas House and Senate. From there, voters will weigh in at the ballot box. A simple majority of votes is all that’s necessary once the amendment is on the ballot.
Kansans for Life and like-minded organizations are working to pass the amendment to the Kansas Constitution.
Registration begins at 8:30 on the ground floor of the Capitol Visitor Center inside the north entrance.
Special guests include Kristen Day, Executive Director of Democrats for Life of America, and Kim Borchers, Kansas Republican National Committeewoman, as they stand united for mothers and babies!
“Life is truly the winning coalition!” stated Culp.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
8:30 a.m. – REGISTRATION – Get info on legislative activities, maps, lobbying, capitol tours, pro-life booths and more
9:00 a.m. – WORKSHOPS 1 &2 – 30-minute educational workshop sessions provided by KFL
10:30 a.m. – NON-DENOMINATIONAL RELIGIOUS SERVICE— Capitol workshop room
10:30 a.m. – Catholic Mass with Kansas Bishops at TPAC or stream it at www.livestream/ArchKCK/KSMassforLife
11:45 a.m. – MARCH FOR LIFE from TPAC to south steps of the state Capitol
12:15 p.m. – Rally for Life on the south Capitol steps
2:30 p.m. – WORKSHOPS 3 & 4 – 30-minute educational workshop sessions provided by KFL
All workshops will take place in the Capitol Visitor Center and are no charge.
Everyone is welcome for lunch any time between 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. for free-will donation in the Mater Dei Assumption Catholic Church basement. Mater Dei, 204 SW 8th Ave., is north and across the street from the Capitol.
If weather is a problem, the rally will be held on the 1st floor rotunda of the Capitol.
For last minute changes due to Covid or restrictions, visit Kansans for Life at KFL.org or their Facebook page.
For details about the capitol building and parking information, visit www.kshs.org/p/kansas-state-capitol-plan-your-visit/18649.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice
