Thousands of abortion protesters are expected to gather on the National Mall in Washington today for the annual March for Life, which marks the 35th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade to overturn all state laws banning abortions. 

The most vulnerable members of our society are the unborn. Since the Supreme Court issued its decision on Roe v. Wade 35 years ago, an estimated 40 million innocent unborn human lives have ended. We mourn for these lives. Thousands of people from around our nation will participate in today’s March for Life. We welcome those who march and the attention they bring to the pro-life movement, which reminds us how much further we have to go to protect the right to life.  

There have been some positive steps in this fight. Last April, the Supreme Court decided to uphold a ban on the controversial ‘partial-birth’ abortion. And reports show that abortions have dropped to a 30-year low. But our work is far from finished. Abortion on demand is the civil rights issue of our generation.  

This is a day to recommit ourselves to the cause of the unborn. I believe that life begins at conception, and will continue to stand up for all innocent life by consistently voting for life.