Moscow community members gathered Saturday in support of the annual March for Life.
Community members joined to march from the Logos School on Baker street to Friendship Square. They were greeted by honks of support from passing vehicles, as well as shouts of anger from others. Once in Friendship Square, protestors gathered around to listen to a speech against abortion and be lead in prayer.
Sam Paul has been the event coordinator for March for Life the past three years. His predecessor, Linda Geidl, had been helping host the event for thirty years.
“March for Life was created as a protest to Roe v Wade,” Paul said.
The national event was created in 1974, a year after the Roe v Wade decision was made, he said. Every year since citizens have gathered on the Saturday closest to the anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision Jan. 22, 1973 to protest its results, according to Paul.
“We hope to raise awareness for our cause and show others our beliefs,” said Tom Ristine, a father of six who brought his children to the event with him.
Ristine said he had been participating in the March for Life for the past six years. He and other protestors described a desire for change and for communication.
“I want to open a conversation. I hope both sides can learn to talk to one another civilly and hear each other. You can’t learn without listening,” said Christa Ryan as she walked her dog along the line of protestors. “I also hope we can create more resources like Wish Medical. I think women need to have those resources that can help them throughout their pregnancy and afterwards as well.”
The event was put on by the Moscow Right to Life, an organization which holds several pro-life events throughout the year including a Planned Parenthood protest and hosting a booth at the county fair. They also plan on hosting their event Forty Days for Life, in which members of Moscow Right to Life plan on sitting outside Planned Parenthood in protest and praying to end abortion.
Brianna Finnegan can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @BriannaFinnega8
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article featured a misquotation of Christa Ryan.