Members of Auburn University’s Students for Life organization made the drive to Washington D.C. once again to participate in the 45th annual March for Life.
The first-ever March for Life happened on Jan. 22, 1974, where thousands of pro-life supporters rallied together and marched around the Capitol. After realizing that Roe v. Wade would not be overturned anytime soon, leaders of the movement vowed they would continue to march every year until they accomplished this goal.
This past weekend the 45th march took place. Along with the march, there were several speeches that occurred including an address from President Donald Trump, the first sitting president to ever address the march, and Vice President Mike
A few Auburn students volunteered to share their experience at this nation-wide event. Elise Sheldrick, sophomore in pre-nursing science, described the powerful emotions she felt as she participated in the walk for the fifth year.
“Faithful individuals surrounded me on the March for Life,” Sheldrick said. “There were so many prayers being said for those struggling
For some students, this was their first time participating in the march. Karla Padierna-Garcia, junior in pre-chemical engineering, described how it felt to participate in this march alongside other Auburn students.
“Being surrounded by my fellow students and friends was the best thing ever,” Padierna-Garcia said. “It’s important to have people that share the same values as you in your life. I’m glad I’ve found such extraordinary people to not only look up
Rietta Bolus, junior in English language arts education, has an even deeper connection to the pro-life movement. She was born in the 28th week of her mother’s pregnancy. Though several weeks premature, doctors never gave up on Bolus’ possibility for survival.
In the United States, the legal cutoff date for abortions in many states is 24-28 weeks. Bolus proves that even at this very early age, life can be sustained, which is why she was so excited to finally attend the March for Life.
“I wanted to go on the March for Life to advocate not only for my own personal connection to this movement but also for the millions of infants who were not given a chance to live,” Bolus said.
Sheldrick, Padierna-Garcia, Bolus and many more students came back to Auburn very inspired by what they witnessed during the march. Padierna-Garcia summed up what caused feelings to stir in all the participants.
“It’s such an inspiring thing to see others be a part of something that causes so much conviction in their heart, and it’s not hard to want to be a part of something like that as well,” she said.
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