Virginia March For Life Expected To Draw Thousands To Richmond

RICHMOND, VA — The 2nd annual Virginia March For Life is planned for Thursday, with a rally at the state Capitol starting at 11:45 a.m. and the march starting at 12:45 p.m. March for Life is joining with the Family Foundation, the Virginia Society for Human Life and the Virginia Catholic Conference to organize this year's event in Richmond.

Last month, the 47th annual March For Life was held in Washington, D.C., with President Donald Trump speaking at the event. Each year, the national march is planned near the Jan. 22 anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court ruling on Roe vs. Wade.

On the Richmond event's website, the organizers said marchers on Thursday "will rally at the state Capitol to call for an end to pro-abortion extremism in the state." Last year's inaugural Virginia March for Life attracted more than 6,000 participants.

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington will offer the invocation at the beginning of the rally.

"Sadly, this march takes place just weeks after a majority of the Commonwealth's elected leaders voted to remove basic health and safety regulations that have been protecting Virginia’s women and unborn children for decades," Burbidge said Tuesday in a statement. "These injustices embolden our commitment and zeal to stand up for the unborn and for women in need of help."

Last month, both houses of Virginia's legislature passed a bill to undo restrictions on abortion put in place when Republicans controlled the legislature. The bill eliminated a required ultrasound and 24-hour waiting period before a procedure can be performed, as well as requirements for clinics that, advocates say, are simply aimed at shutting down the facilities.