Reader TTS

For the first time in 47 years, thousands of pro-life activists from around the county are forgoing the journey to the National Mall for the annual March for Life. A combination of the

coronavirus pandemic and security concerns in Washington, D.C., has led to the decision to keep participants at home this Friday. The annual event will instead take place through an online

broadcast at a critical juncture for a storied cause. Nellie Gray didn’t envision an online rally when she organized the original 1974 march in response to the prior year’s Roe v. Wade

decision. The skilled lawyer had no intention of ever repeating the event until the march failed to have the desired impact on the highest court’s ruling. Realizing that she was in for an

uphill battle, Gray left behind her work as an attorney to devote all of her time and energy to fighting for the civil rights of the unborn, which she continued to do until her death in

2012. The March for Life is now headed by Jeanne Mancini, who is encountering her own struggle as Democrats control both the executive and legislative branches, following this month’s runoff

election in Georgia that sent two Democrats to the Senate. President Joe Biden has made clear that he will continue to maintain distance between the pro-life teachings of his Catholic faith

and his pro-choice policy agenda. He will also end his longstanding support of an amendment that prohibits federal funds from being used to pay for abortions. While he may not have the

backing of the Roman Catholic hierarchy on this issue, President Biden does have the blessing of the Rev. Raphael Warnock, one of the two new senators from Georgia and a firmly pro-choice

Christian. In addition to losing ground in federal elections, pro-lifers have reason to be concerned about the continued use of fetal tissue from elective abortions for biomedical research.

My employer, UPMC, was recently criticized for participating in an immunology study that grafted the skin of fetuses aborted during the second trimester to mice and rats. After the Trump

administration’s ethics advisory board restricted the use of federal funding for this kind of research, a coalition of 98 organizations sent a letter to Biden earlier this month asking him

to rescind the constraints. Despite these setbacks, there are reasons for optimism among those who question such practices. Unless the president decides to pack the Supreme Court, activists

against abortion can find comfort in the court’s conservative-leaning composition thanks to the three justices nominated by Biden’s predecessor. President Trump followed through on his

promise to nominate judges who are widely considered to oppose the constitutionality of abortion rights. Even if Roe v. Wade isn’t overturned, pro-lifers are confident in their ability to

effectively enact laws in state legislatures and win cases in lower courts. In the court of public opinion, anti-abortion advocates continue to maintain significant influence while other

social issues like gay marriage and marijuana legalization have drifted away from conservatives. Polling data released in June from Gallup reveals that roughly half of Americans continue to

identify as pro-life, and a slight majority believe that abortion is morally wrong. Furthermore, the Kaiser Family Foundation released findings last January showing that most people support

some legal restrictions on abortion. These include laws that require ultrasound images to be shown prior to getting the procedure and mandatory waiting periods between meeting with a health

care provider and getting an abortion. This year’s March for Life may be virtual, but there are people on the ground working every day to eliminate the causes that drive women to abortion

and offering services to support them throughout their pregnancy. These advocates believe that every person deserves fundamental protections, and they are committed to building a culture in

which all human lives are valued. It’s safe to assume that Nellie Gray would be proud of their continued efforts, no matter how small. _Ryan Navarro, of Oakland, is a therapist at UPMC._