Thousands took to the streets of Birmingham on May 20 for the annual March for Life, demonstrating in favour of the right to life of unborn children.
Pro-lifers marched through Britain’s second largest city, holding placards to protest the 50th anniversary of the implementation of the Abortion Act, since which an estimated 8.7 million unborn babies have been aborted.
Among the speakers were Aisling Hubert, who tried to bring a private prosecution against two doctors who were accused of trying to arrange a sex-selective abortion, and American pro-life activist Lila Rose, founder of Live Action.
The march included a performance by tenor Martin Aelred, who had never previously sung at a pro-life event.
The march was briefly disrupted by pro-abortion protesters who blocked the route held up proceedings until police reinforcements arrived. However, the marchers were soon able to continue.
“The [pro-abortion] protest was so nasty, and it lasted so long, the only thing we could do was kneel and pray, and many of us knelt on the grass and said the rosary,” said one of the marchers.
Co-Director Isabel Vaughan-Spruce said: “March for Life UK is now in its fourth year and has gone from strength to strength. Despite the rain and in the face of provocation, attendees behaved with a real spirit of joy. We have been overwhelmed by the 100 per cent positive feedback we have received.
“Our mission is to create awareness of the hurt and damage abortion causes, to foster a sense of community in the pro-life movement and to inspire people to become actively pro-life – these three aims were met in the fullest capacity on Saturday.”
One local GP, a claimed to be long time supporter of the march, said, “The speakers were again outstanding, the range of pro-life groups represented was exceptional, the worship band was great and Martin Aelred was terrific”.
The march, described as a “pro-life festival”, takes place each year around the time the 1967 Abortion Act took effect. The first March for Life took place in 1974 in Washington DC, soon becoming an annual event with thousands of pro-life activists taking to the streets.
In 2012, a small group of pro-life activists in Britain decided to hold their own march in Birmingham. The event drew so much attention that the organisers decided to promote the following year’s march on social media, drawing people from all over the country.
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