Youre an easy crowd. On behalf of the board and the whole march for life team i would like to welcome you to the 45th annual march for life. [ cheers and applause ] you are part of the largest annual human rights demonstration in the world. We will begin just as we should. I will welcome to the stage to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. He is from the knights of columbus of Catholic University of america. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america and to the republic for which it stands one nation under god indivisible with liberty and justice for all. [ cheers and applause ] thank you very much. Now im absolutely delighted to introduce you to mckenna donahue, a ninth Grade Student who travelled from buzzards bay, massachusetts. She going to lead us in the national anthem. O say, can you see by the dawns early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight oer the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming and the rockets red glare the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there oh, say, does that starspangled banner yet wave oer the land of the free and the home of the brave [ cheers and applause [ cheers and applause ] great job, mckenna. Each year we are grateful for the collaborative witness of the Roman Catholic orthodox bishops of the United States. [ cheers and applause ] in continuing this proud tradition i am now happy to welcome to the podium metropolitan leading delegation representing the assembly of orthodox bishops of the United States. Joined on stage by many other orthodox and roman dathrcatholi bishops in offering our opening prayer. I dont come here to represent an ideology or to put forth a new thought. I am not here to disclose a new insight or to speak for others. I dont even come here to speak for myself. I come here to speak out the gospel, to speak for the one who died for the life of the world. In this phrase i see the summary of all our communion here today. And so together with my brothers from the eastern orthodox, oriental orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions i ask you to join me in offering a prayer to the one who died not for the lives of the world, but for the life of it. Lord, jesus christ, we know that all things and all people of all times share a kinship, a oneness that even surpasses our understanding. They all have one life and one life only flowing through everything that breathes and everything that exists. When you came into the world you didnt just become human, you also took on this one life and clothed yourself in it, making it your seamless tunic. As life is one all violence of any kind is of the same essence, the tearing of the one tunic. The tearing of the tunic will take place in many forms, abortion, execution, war, racism, genocide, oppression, slavery and hatred of any kind, but the essence of all is one in the same. The the symptoms of the illness is self love. To be pro life means to understand that violence is not the sin of some but of all. That all violence of all time is the sin of all. The truth is that every human being is in your image and everyones life finds infinite value in you regardless of our sins. Lord, you show us that life has only one source and only one victory, self sacrificial love. Help us to be selfsacrificial love for all and we will conquer death. As the great syrian saint said, be persecuted but persecute not. Be crucified but crucify not. Be wronged but wronged not. Be slandered but slander not. Have clemency not zeal with respect to evil. Lay hold of goodness, not justice. Justice does not belong to the christian way of life and there is no mention of it in christs teaching. Rejoice with them that rejoice and weep with them that weep. Rebuke no man, spread your cloak over the man who is falling and cover him. My brothers and sisters, let us be pro life and thus not oppose christs dying for the life of the whole world. Let us be pro life and be against anything that injures life against any violence under any circumstances. Let us be pro life and thus become unable to endure the injury done to any creature. May we be all this to the glory of our all mighty god, revealed in trinity at the river jordan, the father, son and holy spirit both now and ever and unto the ages of ages, amen. [ cheers and applause ] thank you. Thank you. 45 years ago on january 22, 1973 seven men on the United StatesSupreme Court handed down a decision that would forever change history with roe versus wade and the expansion of abortion to all 50 states. The following year the next january 22 it would come and go without public acknowledgment and a courageous woman named nelly gray and a group of others who were appalled by the human rights abuse of abortion organized a march in washington, d. C. Uniting, equipping, educating and mobilizing thousands of prolife citizens to activate their voice in the Public Square. Over these past 45 years, abortion has claimed the lives of over 60 million americans and we grieve their loss. But over these 45 years the march for life has persevered growing to become the largest annual human rights demonstration in the world. [ cheers and applause ] throughout these 45 years the march for life has worked to unite, equip and mobilize millions of pro life citizens in the Public Square. Their love, your love is saving lives. And our theme for the march for life this year is love saves lives. But, and this is a really important but, we are not planning to march for 45 more years. [ cheers and applause ] if you believe that abortion is the human rights abuse and that it has been going on 45 years too long i want to hear you say yes. Yes. Today will you march for those who cannot speak for themselves . Yes. Do you agree that abortion harms women and Harms Society . Yes. Will you march so that abortion becomes unthinkable . Yes. Will you march so that the human rights of abortion will end soon . Yes. Will you march today so that tomorrow we dont have to march . Yes. Your witness here today is incredibly important as it has been for the last 45 years. Share your stories on all of the social Media Outlets and use the whywemarch. We can hear each of your individual stories about why youre pro life. Its also incredibly important that our excitement, our enthusiasm, our passion does not end when we go home today. We must keep marching for life each day every single day around the year taking action in your local communities and in the Public Square to work towards ending abortions. Here is what im going to ask you to do. Do you have your phone with you . I want everyone of you to take it out right now. Pull it out even if you are watching at home pull your phone out right now. This is critically important. Pull your phone out. Youve got it . Do you have it . I cant hear you. Now, i want you to text march to the number 73075. Its that simple. Go ahead and do it right now. Its right up on the jumbo tron. Everyone watching on tv. 73075. And then you will answer three simple questions. I did this yesterday. Then you watch. We will put a map up there and we will see people from all over the country who are committing to ending abortion. Let me tell you how we are going to do that. By signing up right now you are committing to work to end abortion and the very first thing we will do after you get home so you can plan on hearing from us on monday is we will join all of our voices to send an enormous pro life call to this administration in congress to end taxpayer funding of our nations largest abortion provider, planned parenthood. [ cheers and applause ] and we will be in touch every month with another way we want you to activate your voice. Do you agree that that is important . Yes. Want you to send that text with march. Educate and mobilize all of us to make the greatest action towards the greatest impact of the human rights abuse of today. We need each and everyone of you to be part of this movement. As you know this years theme is love saves lives. Love saves lives. Love and sacrifice go hand in hand. Love and sacrifice bear fruit. Lets be clear, folks. Choosing life especially when a woman is facing an unexpected pregnancy is not easy. No one said it was. But it is the right choice. It is the empowering choice. It is the loving choice. And it is the self sacrificial option. [ cheers and applause ] for the remainder of our program you will hear a variety of Amazing Stories of how different people have lived out our theme love saves lives. I want to thank each and everyone of you for being here. I want to thank each and everyone of you for being a part of this movement to end the most significant human rights abuse of today. Thank you. [ cheers and applause [ cheers and applause [ cheers and applause ] lets get the map to see how many people have texted in. I want you to raise your hand if you texted in to join the movement. Can we get the map up there, folks . Let me ask, how many people have texted in . Great. Keep remembering to use the whywemarch and tell your special pro life stories about why we march. Excellent. Im very excited to introduce you to a beautiful woman who embodies our theme in a way that is hard to even put into words. Sister Bethany Madonna [ cheers and applause ] is a member of a very beautiful religious order called the sisters of life. And their mission is very much related to building a culture of life. Im going to let sister Bethany Madonna tell you a little about what they do. Please welcome to the stage sister Bethany Madonna. [ cheers and applause ] wow. We pray for you every day but it is such a joy to see your faces. [ cheers and applause ] as sisters of life we have the privilege of serving courageous women, pregnant, tempted, afraid. And we see jesus perfect love cast out fear and make all things new. Rucell came to live with us in our convent. She said, sisters, im not having an abortion but i would never tell another woman what to do. We watched as god provided for her every need. And as she embraced her own maternity her heart began to change. She told us this story. She said i was in the hospital elevator on the way to a doctors appointment and another woman got on. I said hello. And she burst into tears and said im pregnant. She said congratulations, im pregnant, too. She explained that she just couldnt do it right now. It wasnt the right time. Roquelle felt her baby moving and took this womans hand and put it on her belly and at that moment the baby kicked. She goes wow. And roquelle said my baby is going to be a linebacker. Hes going to be strong and hes going to be blessed. And she asked, why is he going to be blessed. And roquelle said because he is here. Whether you cry or you laugh, if you are here you are blessed. You are put here for a reason. She told her im having an abortion. And roquelle said no youre not. Youre having a girl. You have your girl, dress her up in pink and put ponytails in her hair. And call her roquelle. And my middle name is jasmine. If she ever asks you how she got her name you tell her you met a fabulous lady in the elevator who told you you will have a baby girl. They laughed and got off together and roquelle walked her to her obgyn to make an appointment. She laughed and said i can be pushy. We asked did you keep in touch with her. She said i didnt see her until two years later at the same hospital. She was pushing a stroller and ran up to me and hugged me. She had twins, two girls. And their names roquelle and jasmine. [ cheers and applause ] pshe said i love you, roquelle. You dont understand. I love you. I will never forget your name, your face, your smile. I would do anything for you. I love you. And roquelle said i love you, too. I understand. I have experienced it. It was such a small thing this loving exchange and the impact reaches into eternity. You may not see the impact of your love, but god sees it. The love of your heart is totally unique to you and only you can give it. Your love saves lives. God bless you. [ cheers and applause ] i didnt get to do a proper introduction. Can you tell me a little bit about the founders of sisters of life. In 1991 we were founded by the cardinal archbishop of new york and 70 years old at the time. Had a lot on his plate. God inspired him to raise up a religious community so we take a fourth vow to protect and enhance the saek rudness of human life. We serve women who are pregnant and vulnerable. We have some of them live in our convents. We host retreats every weekend for men and women like yourselves so you can be restored in jesuss love and tenderness. We walk with College Students and spiritual accompaniment who are on campuses who tell them that their bodies are not worth anything, that they have to give away to the ways of this world. When jesus has such a beautiful plan for them, one that reaches to heaven. We walk with men and women who are suffering who feel alone or ashamed or feel unlovable. We watch as jesus raises them from the dead. It is such a privilege to see how he is the one who so desires our hearts and longs for them. No two people in the world have the same finger prints. If god will take so much time to arrange and design the invisible circle patterns on the end of your fingers to be totally unique to you, how much more the love in your heart. It is yours. He is calling you. He trusts you. He has a beautiful plan. He needs you. Say yes and you will be happy and joyful. Amen. [ cheers and applause ] i cant believe how beautiful sister Bethany Madonna is. She has such a contagious joy. I would like to draw your attention to the jumbo tron. Less than a mile away from here this afternoon there is a satellite rally happening in the rose garden of the white house. Were honored to hear from a very special guest. He isnt here at this rally but is in spirit with us at the march for life speaking from the rose garden. Please turn your attention to the jumbo tron as we go live to the white house. [ cheers and applause ] ladies and gentlemen, the Vice President of the United States. [ cheers and applause [ cheers and applause ] to all here in the rose garden and the vast gathering of americans young and old on our National Mall at this very hour, welcome back to washington, d. C. And welcome back to the largest pro life gathering in the United States of america, the 45th annual march for life. More than 240 years ago our founders wrote words that have echoed through the ages. They declared these truths to be selfevident that we are each of us endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights and that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 45 years ago the Supreme Court of the United States turned its back on the inalienable right to life. But in that moment our movement began. A moment that continues to win hearts and minds, a movement defined by generosity, compassion and love and a movement that one year ago tomorrow inaugurated the most pro life president in American History, President Donald Trump. [ applause ] from preventing taxpayer dollars from funding abortion overseas to empowering states to respect life in title x, this president has been a tireless defender of life and conscience in america. Today President Trump will do even more to defend the most vulnerable. Love saves lives. And know as you march for life that your compassion, your persistence, your activism and your prayers are saving lives and this pro life generation should never doubt. We are with you. This president stands with you. And he who said before i formed you in the womb i knew you is with you, as well. And i believe with all of my heart with your continued dedication and compassion, with pro life majorities in the congress, with President Donald Trump in this white house and with gods help we will restore the sanctity of life to the center of american law. And so with a grateful heart on this 45th annual march for life it is now my high honor and distinct privilege to introduce to you the 45th president of the United States of america, President Donald Trump. [ cheers and applause ] thank you everybody. Thank you. Thank you very much. Sit, please. We have tens of thousands of people watching us right down the road. Tens of thousands. I congratulate you in at least we picked a beautiful day. You cant get a more beautiful day. I want to thank our Vice President , mike pence for that wonderful introduction. I want to thank you and karen for being true champions for life. Thank you and thank karen. [ applause ] today im honored and really proud to be the first president to stand with you here at the white house to address the 45th march for life. Thats very, very special. 45th march for life. This is a truly remarkable group. Today tens of thousands of families, students and patrons and really just great citizens gather here in our nations capitol. You come from many back grounds, many places. But you all come for one beautiful cause, to build a society where life is celebrated, protected and cherished. The march for life is a movement borne out of love. You love your families. You love your neighbors. You love our nation. And you love every child born and unborn because you believe that every life is sacred, that every child is a precious gift from god. [ applause [ applause ] we know that life is the greatest miracle of all. We see it in the eyes of every new mother who cradles that wonderful innocent and glorious newborn child in her loving arms. I want to thank every person here today and all across our country who works with such big hearts and tireless devotion to make sure that parents have the care and support they need to choose life. Because of you tens of thousands of americans have been born and reached their full godgiven potential because of you. Youre living witnesses of this years march for life theme and that theme is love saves lives. [ applause ] as you all know roe versus wade has resulted in some of the most permissive abortion laws anywhere in the world. For example, in the United States its one of only seven countries to allow elective late term abortions along with china, north korea and others. Right now in a number of states the laws allow a baby to be born from his or her mothers womb in the ninth month. It is wrong. It has to change. Americans are more and more pro life. You see that all the time. In fact, only 12 of americans support abortion on demand at any time. Under my administration we will always defend the very first right in the declaration of independence and that is the right to life. [ applause ] tomorrow will mark exactly one year since i took the oath of office. And i will say our country is doing really well. Our economy is perhaps the best it has ever been. You look at the job numbers. You look at the companies pouring back into our country. You look at the stock market at an alltime high. Unemployment 17year low. Unemployment for africanamerican workers at the lowest mark in the history of our country. Unemployment for hispanic at a record low in history. Unemployment for women, think of this, at an 18year low. Were really proud of what were doing. And during my first week in office i reinstated a policy first put in place by president ronald reagan, the mexico city policy. [ applause ] i strongly supported the house of representatives bill which would end painful late term abortions nationwide. And i call upon the senate to pass this important law and send it to my desk for signing. [ applause ] on the national day of prayer i signed an executive order to protect religious liberty. [ applause ] very proud of that. Today im announcing that we have just issued a new proposal to protect rights and religious freedoms of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals. So important. I have also just reversed the previous administrations policy that restricted states efforts to direct medicaid funding away from abortion facilities that violate the law. [ applause ] we are protecting the sanctity of life and the family as the foundation of our society. This movement can only succeed with the heart and the soul and the prayer of the people. Here with us today is mary anna from greensboro, north carolina. Come on up here. Come. Nice to see you. [ applause ] she was 17 when she found out she was pregnant. At first she felt like she had no place to turn. But when she told her parents they responded with total love, total affection, total support. Great parents . I thought you were going to say that. I had to be careful. She bravely chose life and soon gave birth to her son. She named him benedict which means blessing. She was so grateful for her parents love and support that she felt called to serve those who were not as fortunate as her. She joined with others in her community to start a Maternity Home to care for homeless women who were pregnant. Thats great. They named it room at the inn. Today she and her husband are the parents of six beautiful children and her eldest son, benedict and her daughter maria join us here today. Where are they . Come on over. [ applause ] thats great. Over the last 15 years room at the inn has provided housing, child care, counseling, education and job training to more than 400 women. Even more importantly, it has given them hope. It has shown each woman that she is not forgotten, not alone and really now has a whole family of people who will help her succeed. That hope is the true gift of this Incredible Movement that brings us together today. It is the gift of friendship, the gift of mentorship and the gift of encouragement, love and support. Those are beautiful words and those are beautiful gifts. And most importantly of all, it is the gift of life itself. That is why we march. That is why we pray. That is why we declare that americas future will be filled with goodness, peace, joy, dignity and life for every child of god. Thank you to the march for life, special, special people. We are with you all the way. May god bless you and may god bless america. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. [ applause ] thank you very much. Can i ask you all to give a very warm welcome to the president of the United States for addressing the march for life. Thank you, mr. President. [ cheers and applause ] i bet he can actually hear you right down there. Thank you, mr. President. As you can see you have a group here who is greatly appreciative of the policies you are enacting to protect the unborn in the United States of america. And now it is my very happy privilege to be joined by several members here on stage several members of our pro Life Congress. [ cheers and applause ] we have truly strong leaders representing us and they are considered the most pro Life Congress in a generation. Thank you very much. [ cheers and applause ] at the very head of this leadership is a pro life speaker of the house. And it is our honor to have him here with us this afternoon. Ladies and gentlemen and young people please give a warm march for life welcome to the speaker of the house of representatives paul ryan. Thank you. How are you doing . [ cheers and applause ] awesome. Look at this crowd. Oh, my gosh. Look at this. Can we just thank god for giving us a pro life president back in the white house . [ cheers and applause ] what a crowd this is so exciting you know what, it is so exciting to see so many young people here today. Your energy is so infectious. You know, i have been participating in the march for life for years and there is one thing that has always struck me and one thing that strikes me again right now and that is the vigor and the enthusiasm of the pro Life Movement. [ cheers and applause ] looking out on this crowd i can see there are people from all ages, all walks of life. But the young people here is what is so inspiring because it tells us that this is a movement that is on the rise. And do you know why the pro Life Movement is on the rise . Because truth is on our side. [ cheers and applause ] life begins at conception. Do you know why the pro Life Movement is on the rise . Because science is on our side. [ cheers and applause ] just look at the ultrasounds that have shown us more about the preborn child than have ever before, how they develop, how they react, how they feel pain. Most importantly, the pro Life Movement is on the rise because we have love on our side. [ cheers and applause ] we believe every person is worthy of love and dignity. That is why the pro Life Movement is on the rise. [ cheers and applause ] and you know one thing that gets sort of lost in this controversy is just how compassionate the pro Life Movement really is. This is what is lost by all those detractors out there. I am so proud of the work that this movement has done to help women especially women who have gone through the pain of abortion. This Movement Helps them find healing and acceptance. I am so proud of this movement and how it supports single mothers who are struggling to raise their children, how it gives them the resources through thousands of phenomenal Crisis Pregnancy Centers around the country. This is the face of the pro Life Movement. [ cheers and applause ] were so proud that the movement and what it is doing to reach out to past and present abortion workers to help those with new perspectives find jobs and a fresh start. This is true compassion. This is real love. Thats what this movement is all about. And its why the march for life is such a joyful march. Anyone out here today can feel the joy in this crowd. Anyone watching on tv can see it. People come from all over the country. You march with your churches, march with your friends, neighbors. You are marching with joy and hope, not with anger and hate. You dont see that on the other side, do you . [ cheers and applause ] you know what is so exciting and so blessed here is i get to stand up here with these phenomenal pro life stalwarts in congress. Lets hear it for these men and women in congress. [ cheers and applause ] this is the faces of pro Life Movement in america. This is the faces of pro Life Movement in congress. Thank you. Thank you. [ cheers and applause ] we strive to make our time in congress a march for life itself. Wetrive to fight for the unborn, to pass important pro life legislation through congress, to work with the Trump Administration to pass pro life policies and laws. [ cheers and applause ] and you know what, were making a lot of progress. In the house we passed legislation to defund planned parenthood. [ cheers and applause ] in the house, we passed the act which restricts abortion after 20 weeks. We passed the protection act which ensures no one is forced to produce an abortion against his or her will. Religious freedom is the first amendment. It is the first protection of our bill of rights. And just a few minutes ago today we passed the born survivors protection act. It protects the life of those babies who suffer from failed abortions. Most importantly, like the march for life we are striving to do this without judgment in our hearts but with compassion and with love for all of the victims. I want to thank you. I want to thank you for being here, for taking the time, for the prayers, for the joy and for the compassion and for the love that you demonstrate right here in this march. This is why the pro Life Movement is on its rise. Remember these are our most powerful tools against the pains of abortion. This is the pro Life Movement. This is one that we will win this day. Thank you, god bless you and tell everybody come back next year and bring three friends. God bless all you guys. Thank you very much. Thank you, thank you, thank you, mr. Speaker. Your presence here today adds to the historic nature of this march for life. We are so grateful for your leadership. I would like to next welcome to the stage a longtime friend of the march for life, a proLife Movement hero, congressman chris smith of new jersey. Chairman of the congressional pro life caucus. Thank you very much. What a speaker of the house, paul ryan. What a leader for life. What a champion. Majority leader mccarthy, the rest of our leadership, the lawmakers you see here, courageous, effective, articulate. We have a team that is second to none. I thank you for your prayers and your assistance in insuring that they and all of us are able to serve on behalf of the most vulnerable. Thank you for the march for life. My wife and i are honored to be here. Everybody here today is part of the greatest human rights struggle on the face of the earth. It is the only human rights abuse. It happens here and all over the world. Because we love, because we pray, because we fast because i believe prayer coupled with fasting is highly efficacious. We will win. Babies will be protected. As we all know this movement has reached out to protect those women who have had abortions, to love them, to care for them, to silent no more. Is the new fac of the proLife Movement. Who speak to the media and throughout the country to say rethink what you are intending. Please, have that baby. Even those clinic workers and National Public radio of all news outlets did a piece last week on all Things Considered talking about aby johnsons work to help Abortion Clinic personnel leave. One of the woman a former planned parenthood clinic person said that on that, that what she was doing was dark and morbid and of course, abby kwlusused ta clin clinic director herself in texas, the woman said on npr that i started to be able to use her own freezer in my home by going through therapy because what we used to call the nursery was the freezer inside that Abortion Clinic. Where the bodies of unborn children would be housed and of course, we know and the speaker said it so well, the requirement to pass the legislation today that we as a team got passed, in an overwhelming majority ensures that the cover up that goes on everyday in Abortion Clinics when personal looks away when a child is born and left to to die due to exposure or an actual killing including strangelation. They will be compelled under law to report that so that those who committees crimes can be prosecuted. Finally, let me say [ cheers and applause ] and i know im speaking to the choir, we need to double down on our prayer for healing. We need to increase our fastings and we need to ask god for wisdom, healing so that we will do our duty to protect the weakest and most vulnerable. Thank you and god bless you. [ cheers and applause ] thank you mr. Smith. Next, i would like to welcome congresswoman jamie butler, she is from Washington State and she has an absolute beautiful story that shes willing to share with you all today. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Oh my goodness its a privilege to be here with my family. Come on over hun. This is my family. [ cheers and applause ] let me take you back to a memory we have. See that . That is her practice breathing. I will never forget those words. As our doctor offered a medical explanation for the miracle that we are witnessing. You see, unborn babies are almost magical. Theyre literally swiking in stem cells, they are responsive to the breakthrough medical treatment. My husband dan and i went for our first, our 20 week ultrasound, excited first time parents and we were not prepared for what we were told. We were told that our unborn baby had zero chance of survival. 0. She had no kid anies, bilateral renal as a result our baby would miss carry or born unable to breathe because her lungs did not develop. She would suffocate upon arrival and there was nothing anyone can do about it. Talk about hopeless. Oh my heavens did they die . No. [ laughter ] when women get this news they are heading across the street to schedule a termination. At a Second Opinion consul, i was offered the option not to abort but induce early. So i was at 20 weeks a the this point. So i said what is early . Like today, this week. The sooner you start over the better off you would be emotionally. Dan and i prayed and cried and we learned to contend. And in that devastation. Why do you cry . Im telling everybody. [ laughter ] we saw hope. What if god would do a miracle . What if a doctor was willing to try something new . What if we can get saline infusions in utero so the baby can develop without kidneys. What if . We would never had known if we hasnt tried so through divine intervention [ cheers and applause ] and some very courageous doctors willing to take a risk, we get to experience our daughter abigail. [ cheers and applause ] who is a healthy, happy fouryearold big sister who says that some day shes going to be the boss of mommys work. [ cheers and applause ] look out speaker ryan. And now because others have heard our story about abigail, she is just the first no longer the only. I was told there was no chance of survival and they were wrong and they werent bad people, they never seen a baby with this condition survive. But thats the point. What if theyre wrong about others too . What if together we can break new ground and find new treatments that will benefit more than just our own families . What if the baby wont have that significant medical condition or disability . Or even if she does, what if every baby was given at least, a shot to reach their True Potential . [ cheers and applause ] who would we be as a nation . What richness would we get to see . Instead of the equivalent of two general rags missing because of that choice. Would we already witnessed an individual finding a cure to cancer or a key to eradicating extreme poverty. What if we spent the last 45 years pouring that time and money into finding cures in the womb . What if that money was used to end the babies disease and not the babys life . [ cheers and applause ] what if instead, what if instead of spending millions of dollars in abortions and we invest the money into caring for the babies who are born with Significant Health conditions or disabilities. We can think of people who have enrirched us it is difficult to imagine a world they were never born. We should embrace full diversity. Which include physical and mental abilities. All different ones. Different abilities. [ cheers and applause ] what if we celebrated disability instead of letting fear make it our mortal enemy . [ cheers and applause ] today, we have come together to say, theres hope for every expected mother who has been given a devastating diagnosis for every woman who feels fear, anger anxiety because she doesnt know how to afford to care for the child. For every women that feels helpless, jesus loves you. [ cheers and applause ] and for every baby thats been given up on by the status quo, jesus still does miracles. [ cheers and applause ] we must recognize the unborn child that a miracle that he or she is, who deserves a fighting chance to live and just maybe reach that extraordinary potential. Thats the way our society is going to reach ours. Thank you and god bless. Thank you. [ cheers and applause ] thank you. All right. Thank you so much for that heroic sharing of that tremendous witness and testimony to life. That was such a beautiful story. Thank you. We wish we had time for every single one to share their stories. They all have beautiful stories and they are fighting and juicing your voiusing your voice on capitol hill. From the senate side we are grateful to have the senators. We have a full house. Represent steve pierce, jim banks, represent todd. Representative andy and representative diane black. Representative don bacon, representative ron. Representative glen, representative bob, representative roger marshall, representative kristy nome, representative ralph, tom, representative lloyd smuker. Representative glo representative glen thompson. Representative joe wilson, representative lee zeldin and representative luke messer. Do we have a proLife Congress or what . [ cheers and applause ] thank you guys very much. Now, more than ever, it is important that our lawmakers hear from them. Be sure to stop by their offices and let them know. Those who arent here, maybe they need to know more. Let them know you stand for life. This type of advocacy has been been of the march for life. I would like to turn your attention to the jumbo tron and were going to be interviewing four people who participated in the march 45 years ago the very first march for life. Take a look on the jumbo tron. On january 22nd, 1973 the row versus wade decision was handed down by the u. S. Supreme court apposing abortion on all 50 american states. A small group of concerned citizens organized on the First Anniversary to give witness on the unjust decision and proclaim the truth that love saves lives. It grew out of this meeting a local grassroots people and we got there that day and over 300 buss came from all over the country mostly from the northeast corridor which we had people coming from michigan, kansas, texas, from all over. The atmosphere at the first march for life was fantastic. Everyone was so excited and unhappy with the decision but we felt that we had it turned around in a year or two. That it would be reversed. So many babies lost. We had been undeterred in the mission to be a voice for the voiceless. Over these 45 years the march for life has grown to be the largest human rights demonstration in the world. Every year it has grown. The crowds are really huge now. I think that is the most positive thing. And the youth that came into it are the ones that are going to keep it going. Thats how we are going to win the fight. The young people who see the value of life, not just theirs. We will be there until we over turn row versus wade and believe me weare. Our vision is a world where the beautify of life and dignity is valued and protected. We march for life saving love and we march to end abortion and we will. [ cheers and applause ] and we will. We will. We will remiss, can you believe it with all of those names we missed a few members. I want to thank you a few. I want to thank you all of the congressmen. Moving on, im excited to introduce our next guest as the center of the Baltimore Ravens from 2009 to 2013, matt birk was part of the team that won super bowl 7, now director of foot development. Together mat and his beautiful wife adrianna are inspiring examples of our theme, love saves lives. Welcome them to the stage, matt and Adrianna Birk and their family. We used to have a saying we would be out in the field before kick off and say, wrls would you rather be than right here, right now . [ cheers and applause ] you know, they say if you cant explain an idea or a concept to a third grader, either you dont understand the idea or its not a good idea. You cant explain abortion to an 8yearold. It doesnt make any sense. And what that means is, this is not a battle of logic because if it was, abortion would have ended a long time ago. This isnt a battle for the mind, this is a battle for hearts. And its important to remember that those who are proabortion, the war is not against them, its against the evil of abortion that those people they are our brothers and sisters, they are children of god and made in his likeness. So when talking about abortion, i often think, you often think about talking to an enemy. If one of my daughters was going to say i want to have an abortion, what would i do . I would talk to h what is mor beautiful than a brand new baby . A brand new baby is perfect. It looks perfect, it sounds perfect, it smells perfect. Its pure and incapable of resentment or hatred or anger. I would tell someone that i care about, i dont want you to have an abortion because it would prevent you from experiencing the fullness of joy that god has for your life. [ cheers and applause ] its important to remember to come from a place of love and compassion because those who are proabortion, we must remember theyve bought into the lies. They probably hurt. Theyre scarring and we need to show them love because love saves lives. Thank you very much. [ cheers and applause ] i love that family. Gosh, theyre so incredible, thank you. Look at all the young people here today, you are the prolife generation. [ cheers and applause ] dont forget to share your stories using hashtag why we march and all the different social Media Outlets, let everyone all over the world know what we are doing here today. So we dont have to do this every year and we can finish this soon. This year, students from Montgomery Alabama will be leading the march. Carrying the banner. And representing their group is our lovely next speaker. And shes the one youve been waiting for the whole time. You always want to hear from one of you more than anybody else. Please welcome agnus armstrong. Hello, everyone. Im agnus and im from montgomery, alabama. Im a sophomore at Auburn University and three years ago i stood where you are today and my first march for life. For the first time in my entire life i truly felt like i was pay part of something bigger than myself and since that moment i decided to dedicate my life to the sieve i will rights abuse of abortion. In 1955 a woman named rosa parks was ordered to move to the back of a public bus because of her skin color. She knew something was wrong with that demand. She recognized her worth didnt come from her physical characteristics but rather her worth came from the dignity of her humanity. She spoke one word that forever changed our nation, she said no. [ cheers and applause ] also in montgomery stands the dexter memorial church. A preacher came from there to washington, d. C. Just like you and me and shared a dream of his. A dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are kwaeted equal. Dr. Martin luther king got it right. [ cheers and applause ] i stand here today from that same city as those two leaders with my own dream. That our generation will be the ones who finally abide by the principles our great nation was founded on, that all men are created equal and deserve the same right to life. 60 million babies lost to the holocaust of abortion. Let us use our voices like rosa parks and stand up for all. Whether it is the frail life clinging to every minute or the tiny baby inside of the womb. Let us march like dr. King. Power through distance, and hate and power through everything with love. Love means sacrifice and love saves lives. [ cheers and applause ] we are here today to finish the work rosa parks and dr. King began. To make sure every persons inherit dignity and worth is recognized. Join with me today as we too fight for the civil rights of the unborn. Lets go march. [ cheers and applause ] all right. Way to go agnus. So good to hear from you and to remember those historical foundings of the Civil Rights Movement in our country. Im happy to welcome our next guest to the stage for the very first time to the march for life rally. Pam tebow and while ill let her tell her own story, it is clear as a missionary, as a wife, and leader and a mother of five, she has shown what it means to love and to save lives. Welcome, pam. [ cheers and applause ] thank you. Love saves lives. Love saved the life of our son. In 1987 our husband was in a remote village in the philippine ps. As he tells it he suddenly became aware of all the babies being aborted in america. Bob has been very involved in helping to save those babies before we left for the mission field. And so it was in the context of weeping over those aborted babies that he got down on his knees and that remote place far from home and he prayed lord, if you give us a son, well name him timothy and our kids got excited. And god answered our prayers. If in the beginning it was a difficult pregnancy. We thought we lost him so many times. The best doctor in town did tests and determined that timmy was a massive fetal tissue a tumor and i needed to abort and abort immediately or i would die. If i had die in childbirth, god still would be god, wouldnt he . But because of our love for the life in the womb, we chose to trust god and refuse to have an abortion. [ cheers and applause ] during my tough thank you. This is all gods story so he gets all the credit. During this difficult tough pregnancy, i had no medical care, but i clung to our loving god. And suddenly the bleeding stopped and my husband flew me to manella and a wonderful american trained prolife doctor saved my life and the life of our son and when timmy entered the word he said this is a miracle baby i never witnessed such a miracle. Because only a tiny piece of the placenta was intact. He was mall nourished and we asked everybody to pray that hello grow big and strong. If you seen him lately, you know those prayers were so grateful for our favorite god story and god really does save lives. His love saves lives. Human Life International does research on all the different people groups that have been aborted since row versus wade, they estimate that the at least 12 Heisman Trophy winners have been aborted during those year rs. Love prevented our timmy from being number 13 but i thought about that and i wrote a poem. I would have quarter backed a Championship Team a foundation would be my lifelong dream. My plat rorm reaching and profound despite all of my potential i never made a sound. Only my mother cried, so although i was never born in reality i died. When i was abruptly torn away from my mother and tossed along with others in a garbage can or tomb. Im glad that poem isnt about my son. But i dont want it to be about anyones son or daughter. So a few weeks after timmy graduated from the University Florida we agreed to do a super bowl commercial. It was a funny and simple 30 second commercial but thanks to our noisy oh opponents and the media, the message got out and did a survey following that commercial and found that over 5. 5 Million People rethought their stand on abortion because of that simple commercial. [ cheers and applause ] thats a god story too. A god story that we loved. All of those numbers stand for people. Weve had a chance, timmy and i both held babies that were saved because of that commercial. One story was a teacher who watched that commercial 25 times on the 25th time she chose life and had a little girl and named her av id a which means life. Love really does save life lives. Here is a verse. Im paraphrasesing. Because god loves us we ought to love one another just like he loves us. So today, because love saves lives, we are going to stand together and march together in love to save lives. Thank you. [ cheers and applause ] okay. Were coming close to the end here and thank you pam for your absolutely beautiful story. Shortly were going to recognize the many different organizations working in our Nations Capital and around the country to built a culture of life here in the United States. One such organization is the National Institute of family and life advocates, nifla with the help of the legal team, they are currently advocating on behalf of free speech rights for Pregnancy Care Centers and their case litigated before the Supreme Court during this session. It is so critical that our freedom of speech is protected and this video talks about this fight. Hi, my name is kristen wagner, seerns advice a passion and add vo kat for the proLife Movement and sansty of life. For over 20 years we have been defending those who defend life. Who were told they would lose their job if they didnt perform abortions. College students who started a prolife club. To representing prolife organizations enincluding the march more life its. Its been a privilege to stand with you to protect human lives and end abortion. Soon, you will join in a march to the Supreme Court to promote the message that love saves lives and today adf invites you to engage in another opportunity to defend and protect life. This spring, we will once again stand before the Supreme Court along with our alli, the National Institute of family and life advocates. To represent its network of 135 prolife Pregnancy Centers in california. These centers empower women to choose life by providing love and support often in the form of medical assistance prenatal vitamins and baby clothing to. But Pregnancy Centers in california are being forced by the government to promote abortions to the Vulnerable Women in their care. This law written by abortion groups is an attack on the first amendment. Pregnancy centers encourage to exist mothers to give their children the opportunity for life. Thats why Alliance Defending freedom will be arguing on behalf of nifla which representing prolife centers in california and 1,400 others nationwide. Because life deserves a voice and because love saves lives. Thats why we are today and were marching together. Will you join us once again on the steps of the Supreme Court this spring . Will you pray for this historic decision and will you spread the word about this landmark case . Thank you for your time and to learn more, go to givefreespeechlife. Org. [ cheers and applause ] the proLife Movement is made up of incredibly dedicated individuals who workday in and day out to build a culture of life in our country and around the world. I would encourage you to learn more about these organizations by checking out the march for life conference and expo the Renaissance Hotel headquarters after you march today. Im humbled, every one of them heads up a different prolife organization. Every one of us has a unique mission and each organization has a different mission. So when were faithful to that mission and collectively working together in unity, we will build a culture of life. All of us together. [ cheers and applause ] and very quickly going to run through a list of the organizations up here. Its my honor to welcome, forty days for life, Alliance Defending freedom, app log, American Association of christian schools, american conservative union, American Life league, and then there were none, arch die cease of washington, c fam, christian legal society, christian medical and dental association, concerned women for america, ethics and religious liberty commission, Family Research counsel, feminist for life. Focus on the generation, heart beat international, heritage foundation, Home School Legal Defense found, liberty council, march for life action. National pro National Committee for human life amendment, operation rescue, Susan B Anthony list, silent no more, southern baptist, stand true ministries, students for life. Tradition family property bravo. Women who speak for themselves anden sent are fer ethics for culture. Can i get a round of applause for the organizations . [ cheers and applause ] excellent. Before we start to march, i have a few administrative announcements. First, if you have any trash, dump it in the dumpsters, we are prolife in all ways, we want to throw our trash away. The marshals will be collecting donations for the march for life along constitution avenue news, it helps fund this event every year. So consider being generous. Finally at the conclusion of our rally, follow the directions of our marshall who will point you in the direction of the march. Theres a lot of you out there today so follow their lead so we can march safely to the Supreme Court. Last, join me welcoming back to the stage a sister of life who is going to close us in prayer c. Sister Bethany Madonna. In the name of the father, son and holy spirit, heavenly father we bless you pras you and thank you for the git of life. Thank you for the gift of the life of your son you poured into our hearts and healed us with for your mercy. Send your spirit upon every person here, watching and will witness this day. Come holy spirit, you are welcomed we receive you with joy. May hearts be healed and changed. May the truth reign in this land. May we be set free from any bondage that keeps us held back from what you desire father. We ask all of these things in your name, jesus, in the name of the father, son and holy spirit, amen. Amen. [ cheers and applause ] im looking like a broken piece shattered on this empty floor i tried to simply keep it, i know there must be something more im hear now to turn it over complete into your great hands i will place my trust when i cannot stand you will lift me up every fear, every step you lead me here all i am into your great hands oh, this goes against my every instinct to loosen my grip and let go really all that im risking is Perfect Peace in my soul into your great hands, i will place my trust oh, when i cannot substantiate you will lift me up oh, every fear, every step you lead me here all i am into your great hands oh, these hands, that took the nails these hands they will not fail these hands, that stars these hands that hold my heart into your great hands into your great hands into your great hands 40 seconds away. I can only do what i can do. [ crowd noise ] [ inaudible ] [ cheers and applause ] [ crowd noise ] [ cheers and applause ] when i said pro, you say life. When i said proyou say life, pro. Life. Pro. Life. When i said save the you say baby. Save the. Baby. Save the baby. When i said pro, you say life. Pro. Life. Pro. Life. When i said save the you say baby. Save the. Baby. Save the. Baby. [ cheers and applause ] give me a mega phone. [ cheers and applause ] we can start again and honored to the end we can start again i see you dressed in white everyone made right i see you roes in bloom at the sight of you irreplaceable, unmistakable, uncomparable time is beautiful i see it all in you yeah, i see you dressed in white i see you dressed in white i see you, we can start again i see you at the sight of you i see you dressed in white oh, so priceless [ inaudible ] [ cheers and applause ] we love babies yes we do, how about you . We love babies, yes we do, how about you . We love babies [ cheers and applause ] [ cheers and applause ] [ inaudible ] [ crowd noise ] [ cheers and applause ] [ crowd noise ] [ inaudible ] idly that well stand for. We will survive. I believe that well survive. I believe that we will survive. [ crowd noise ] [ crowd noise ] [ inaudible ] as this event comes to a close. Marchers are making their way up constitution avenue to the Supreme Court. The president canceling his departure because of a possibility of the government shut down. The anniversary of the 2017 womens march will be live on c span starting at 11 00 a. M. Eastern. Political roles for women in 2018. This weekend on American History tv on c span 3, lectures and history Depaul University professor on abraham lincolns give me back my 500,000 sons the soldiers lost in the war. The civil war, the darkers hours of the war. 1864 the artist shown with the leg slung over his chair with the country bifrp kin reputation ineloquent and crude. The fact is by the way it reminds me of a story which was another part of his reputation. Telling stories and homilies and tall taels and joke. A discussion on free speech on college campuses. Intellectual diversity is healthier than many people suspect. That doesnt mean there isnt an issue where certain students views and certain groups have felt that they have received less active attention from the faculty and administration and i inkud conserve stif students in that group. They have received less public attention and i think we need to meet those students where they are and help them to develop a place in our public conversation where they feel more included. And sunday 4 00 p. M. On real america. The film drug abuse meeting the challenge. Anyone who says cocaine is not aaddictive is a lie. Cocaine is not hip it is hype. Anyone who tells you is okay, is a liar. Watch American History tv every weekend on c span3. Housing and urban Development Secretary ben carson is part of a forum on disparities facing African American communities including education, Economic Issues and discrimination. Panels with educators and academics and journalists lead off thehe event. Good morning