WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the 15th straight year, the Knights of Columbus, Council 211 located in Norwich organized a bus trip to venture down to the annual March for Life last Friday, January 27.
The pro-life rally and march, which takes place every year in the nation's capital, attracts people of all faiths from across the world to protest the 1973 Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States.
Knights of Columbus member Jim Reynolds, who has attended each of the last 15 marches, described his experience at the march as simply ‘powerful.’
“It's hard to describe the feeling if you haven't been,” said Reynolds. “People of all faiths were in attendance and they all were peaceful and praying – it's a unifying force.”
According to Reynolds, the march typically attracts around 300,000 marchers, but this year's event saw nearly 500,000 attendees. Reynolds attested this to the fact that there is a pro-life President and Congress for the first time in decades, and also because Vice President Mike Pence was in attendance as this year's featured speaker.
Prior to the rally and the march, members of the Knights of Columbus, Council 211 attended a Mass ceremony at The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
“There were a lot of young people there, enthusiastic for life. And it was a beautiful sermon from the bishop,” said Dwayne Williams, who like Reynolds, has attended each of the last 15 marches. “And afterwards, the march was peaceful – nobody was out to get anyone. Just everybody enthusiastic about life itself, cheering and supporting the babies who couldn't speak up themselves.”
Reynolds added to the notion that the march was wholly peaceful, and he believes that detail sets the March for Life apart from other marches and protests occurring around the country in recent days.
“We had as many people or more at the March for Life from what I saw, and yet there wasn't one incident [of violence],” said Reynolds.
Both Reynolds and Williams expressed excitement about the turnout of the march and about the upcoming appointment of a new Supreme Court Justice, which according to President Trump will be announced on Tuesday, January 31 at 8 p.m. The appointment of a pro-life justice would be crucial to the cause of pro-lifers.
“It feels phenomenal,” said Reynolds. “America's always been a leader. If we can make this right, others around the world will follow. It has evolved into such a powerful movement.”
Williams shared the sentiment that Trump will be a driving force in tipping the scales back into the pro-lifers' favor.
“He is keeping all of his campaign promises, I just pray for his safety and hope that he puts a pro-life judge in the Supreme Court,” said Williams.
As for what's next? Reynolds and Williams say that they will continue to pray that change will come, and they will continue to support President Trump and legislation that supports the concept of life.