The March for Life has been a tradition for St. John's students for numerous years, one that past and current participants will say is a worthwhile battle in support of life.
Since its conception 44 years ago, the March for Life has been a rally for both young and old in the hope of ending abortion. This year, St. John's was represented by 59 students and 12 chaperones and experienced this event firsthand, as well as a historical moment for the March for Life.
Ryan Dickman, 12th Grade, is a veteran to the March for Life, having both attended in 2015 and this year’s march. In comparison to his previous experience at the March, it was different than before. “My first year, we only were part of the march itself. This year, we got to see the speakers at the rally before the actual march.”
At the rally, there were numerous speakers some of the speakers included Kellyanne Conway, Representative Mia Love from Utah, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York City, and Vice President Mike Pence. Although all the speakers moved the crowd in some way, our students were significantly influenced in listening to Vice President Mike Pence and Representative Love.
Allie Gerberick, 12th Grade, experienced the March for Life for the first time, but it was her second time hearing Vice President Pence. “I thought it [the march] was amazing. I think the best part was seeing how many people were willing to go stand up for life.” In regards to hearing VP Pence, “The first time I heard him speak was during the campaign and why he thought Donald Trump would make a good President. This time at the rally, it was about what they were going to do to make things change and talked working to overturn Roe vs. Wade.
Both students felt that it was cool to listen to VP Pence. For Gerberick, she noted, “It made me really feel like some change was going to happen.”
Charlie Rohrbacher, St. John’s high school teacher and chaperone, attended this year’s March for Life, making it his 9th trip going. He acknowledged the historic significance of VP Pence’s presence. “It was the first time we ever had a sitting Vice President speak to us, which was excellent, as well as having Kellyanne Conway, the Congressmen, and Cardinal Dolan. The speakers were the best I’ve seen in all the years I’ve been there.”
Although VP Pence was a highlight to the rally, it was Representative Mia Love who moved the masses. She gave her testimony: her parents immigrated to the United States from Haiti and were forced to leave two of their children behind. A short time later, they found out they were pregnant and considered abortion. If they would not have chosen life, her parents never would see her become the first black, Republican woman to be elected to Congress.
The impact of the March for Life was evident to the students and chaperones. It showcased to Dickman’s values that he is not alone in his beliefs with his peers and other adults. “The number of people who were there speaks a lot to me. It showed me a lot of people believe in what I believe in.”
For Gerberick, it reaffirmed her values and inspired a call to action. “I truly believe abortion is wrong, and I think that, especially in our generation, if we believe something strongly we need to stand up and do something otherwise, nothing is ever going to get done and nothing will ever happen.”
Rohrbacher witnessed a new life and support in our federal administration. “It seems like they will have change take place now with a Republican administration and Congress. They actually can have some effect on the laws and getting more abortion restrictions, and maybe even overturning Roe vs. Wade at some point.”
In addition to the march, the St. John’s group went to a reception sponsored by Representative Jim Jordan and Senator Rob Portman, visited some memorials including the Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and Vietnam Memorial, as well as toured the Holocaust museum and the American History Smithsonian.