Inaugural Colorado March for Life will take place April 12
By Julie Bailey
On April 12, Pro-Life Colorado, a coalition of pro-life organizations across the state, will team up with the National March for Life organization to host the first ever Colorado March for Life. While it is true that we have for many years held statewide rallies and marches at the state capitol in Denver, these were always independent undertakings sponsored by the Denver Archdiocese under the moniker “Celebrate Life March.”
For the 2024 Colorado March for Life, we hope to capitalize on the momentum and gravitas of the National March for Life to expand our pro-life presence at the Colorado State House.
The National March for Life has taken place in Washington, D.C., each January for over 50 years in commemoration of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Decision (Jan. 22, 1973). In 2022, following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision which overturned Roe v. Wade, the national organization began to partner with individual states to establish and strengthen state-by-state activism for the pro-life cause. Since Dobbs made the regulation of abortion a state issue, the logic went, pro-life warriors needed to step up to fight for an end to abortion within their states. The national March for Life organization aims, through its state march program, to support and encourage those efforts.
Veterans of past Celebrate Life Marches will remember that event taking place in Denver in January. So, why move the Colorado March to April?
In Colorado, all the laws promoting and protecting abortion have become law in April. These include the original decriminalization of abortion in Colorado which went into effect on April 25, 1967; the Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA) signed into law by Governor Jared Polis on April 4, 2022; and three additional bills signed by the governor on April 14, 2023 (collectively referred to as RHEA 2.0) which codify in state statute unfettered access to abortion through all nine months of pregnancy and protection of those who provide unlimited abortion while limiting the operations of pro-life pregnancy resource centers.
The inaugural Colorado March for Life on April 12 will commence with a rally at 11 a.m. featuring local and national speakers and music from the worship team at Colorado Christian University. Pro-life organizations from around the state will staff information tables and some will bring mobile ultrasound units which will be open for tours. The march will commence at noon from the Capitol steps and proceed along Lincoln Park and around Civic Center Park to return to the south side of the Capitol. The length of the circuit is approximately one mile. Prior to the start of the march, Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodriguez of Denver will celebrate Mass at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, located at 1530 Logan St.
In an effort to encourage participation by the faithful in Colorado Springs, the Respect Life Apostolate will be chartering several buses to transport attendees from four locations around the diocese up to Denver. Bus boarding will be available at St. Dominic Church in Security, Holy Trinity Church, the Monument Park ‘n Ride, and St. Mark Church in Highlands Ranch. Participants will have the opportunity to attend Mass at St. Mark at 9:30 a.m. before heading to the Capitol. To sign for a bus, go to https://bit.ly/3wse3Hz.
(Julie Bailey is director of the Respect Life Apostolate of the Diocese of Colorado Springs.)