Hundreds gather in Harrisburg for annual March for Life
HARRISBURG, Pa. —
Abortion opponents marched around the State Capitol in Harrisburg on Monday as part of the Pennsylvania March for Life.
The organization March for Life organizes the annual event, which is aimed at ending abortion in Pennsylvania and around the country.
Many top Republican lawmakers attended the event and showed support for efforts to further restrict abortion in Pennsylvania.
“We all believe in the value of life, and we all believe as policymakers up here that our job is to protect those children in the womb as though they were out of it and we will continue to do that up in the Capitol representing you,” said Representative and House Minority Leader Jesse Topper.
Hundreds of people gathered in Harrisburg for the annual march along with former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, who urged prayers and support for measures that would end abortion.
Pro-choice Pennsylvanians respond
Supporters of access to abortion said women face worse physical and mental health outcomes when they are denied access to the procedure.
“It is not the role of the government to be deciding those things for women. Keeping abortion safe and legal in Pennsylvania for women here, and also women who may come from out of state to seek that care is really important because it is essential health care,” said Representative Emily Kinkead.
Abortion in Pennsylvania is legal through the 23rd week of pregnancy and can only be performed after that if a pregnant woman’s physical health is in severe danger.
The state’s Commonwealth Court also recently struck down a ban on Medicaid funding for abortion, though the attorney general has appealed that decision.