GA March for Life 2015

January 22, 2015 marked 42 years since Roe v. Wade which made abortion legal in the United States. In Georgia this year we met together, amid rumors of "pro-life" legislation on a federal level, to mourn the lose of millions of innocent lives. We rallied to encourage one another to keep fighting for those who can not speak for them selves, from conception to natural death, NO EXCEPTIONS!

This was the first year to meet in front of the capital in the new Liberty Plaza - the first event to be held in this lovely park.

some views of the crowd
(notice the red hat in the top right corner picture - that's Gene.
There is a white hat(?) to his right [your left] and then Adam's head.
They were waiting to be security guards - more on that later).

Some lovelies - clockwise: Ryan & Alex; Grandmother Joyce & Miss Judy; Brent & his Mama Melanie; Me and my Mama next to Alex and Elijah.
This was my mother's first trip to the March for Life - she is a HUGE supporter of my little "stand for life"

We got a little media coverage.

Top: Victory 91.5 was back - Joshua Edmonds from GRTL (red sweater)
Bottom: A nice looking newsman and his busy cameraman from CBS 46
(can't find a link to the TV news story)

Lots of good speakers.

Clockwise from top: GA Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols (and founder of Teen Pact) was the emcee;
Elizabeth Reed gave testimony about her little girl who was conceived in rape and is NOT an exception;
Molotov Mitchell was the Guest Speaker - dynamic fella - GREAT speaker and all around good guy (didn't agree with him on every single point - more on that later); the new band; Some of our state legislators - more showed up later.

Here's Elizabeth's testimony. I had the privledge of praying with her when she was done. 

BRAVE lady!

And here's one of that Molotov guy click here to see him.
He made a suggestion he dubed "Wave to Wave". Doctors often define the end of life when one shows no brain waves; a fetus has been found to have brain waves at 8 weeks old (gestational age or fetal age?). It's a good idea - but I'm still on the conception bandwagon.
His father raised him protesting abortion facilities. He didn't fall far from the tree. He was also shown, by his father, a video of an abortion at an early age - and he encouraged parents to show their children abortion footage as well. Of course I was questioned about this a few hours later by one of my sweet, well meaning chapter advisers. Should we be giving out an abortion video to parents?
My answer: "No."
There is a time and a place for everything. There are some people I'd like to pull aside and show this horribleness to right this minute - but my children . . .
Would I willing submit them to videos of a murder? A beheading? A rape?
In an attempt to get them to understand the evil of porn would I show it to them?
No, no, no, no.
They have vivid imaginations, when the time is right with each one we will fill in the details. When they feel called to speak out for the unborn, when they are old enough, mature enough, perhaps.
I had to watch a LOT of really ugly, heart wrenching videos when I volunteered to counsel at a pregnancy resource center - it strengthened my passion and resolve to protect the innocent.
I was an adult.
Will I ever show my children evil on video? Perhaps.
Most know it exist. Some know details.
Some are old enough to read the news. All its shocking gory details.
I will not shield them from truth. I can't. I don't.
But I treasure their innocence more than one mans opinion. And I will cleave to it as I train by example.

Delicate balance.

We were blessed to be volunteers!
Gene and Adam were security guards.
And the rest of us (along with 3 others) helped with a visual. Josh Edmonds (who may have to much time on his hands) figured out that the population of all the states who are part of the SEC (or some other sports related something) would be GONE if the abortions happened by state.
They explained it better - the population of those states = total number of abortions since 1973.
You get the idea.
We held wooden states with their populations painted on them.

Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Somewhere in New England, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, ???, ???, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia (I think there were 16 states altogether - gone).
Photos courtesy of GRTL

Tim finished talking, introducing and giving directions.
Taps played. America's Song of Remembrance
We began our silent dirge.

Welcome to Atlanta; Peachtree St; Paulding County Chapter of GRTL (we need to bring our FCRTL sign next year - unless we outlaw abortion before then); A sweet mother with her three babies; marching on Atlanta (last two)

GSU is taking over Atlanta - most students were very curious, some were mildly ugly; police on horses; signs; my girls; other marchers; police on bikes

the top right is my baby boys holding hands; the other two are of our loud pro-abortion protesters. Thankfully, this year they were just loud and obnoxious and poorly informed. They wanted to stop our march and at one point we did stand still briefly as the police moved them back to the sidewalk.
They have the same freedom to voice their beliefs as we do. And they are the ones for whom we pray.
They are NOT the enemy. And when their life is on the line - we will still be praying for them as we stand by their side.
Protecting the innocent. Until natural death. No exceptions.
Pray for these.

The front of the walk (Gene and Adam on duty - orange vest to the right - they helped keep people behind the sign - they walked with the speakers - they know one lady who is very proud of them).
Photos courtesy of  GRTL.

Here's a couple more. A snapshot of part of our group during the event (courtesy of GRTL)

And part of our cute group walking back to the van.

And then we went to Chick-fil-a. 

Adam, Brent, Melanie, Judy, Elijah, Phil, Jacob, Alex. Joyce, Josiah, Ava, Lora, Autumn, Jorja, Erin, Gene, Ryan

God gave beautiful weather and wonderful friends to share the day with.
Keep fighting the good fight.

So I sought for a man among them 

who would make a wall, 

and stand in the gap before Me 

on behalf of the land, 

that I should not destroy it; 

but I found no one.

Ezekiel 22:30