The 2021 Oregon March for Life proceeded around the Oregon Capitol mall. The crowd, estimated at nearly 2,000, gathered in front of the Capitol on Saturday, April 17 for the first-ever spring march after the regular January event was postponed. Every year, advocates of all ages remember the 61 million innocent lives lost to legal abortion since the passing of Roe v Wade in 1973. A variety of speakers addressed this year’s crowd, including Representative Vikki Breese-Iverson, Father Tim Mockaitis of Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Salem, Oregon Right to Life President Melody Durrett, Marion County Commissioner Colm Willis, Students for Life Regional Coordinator Lucia Morud and a panel of faithful sidewalk advocates involved in the closing of Portland’s Lovejoy Surgicenter. Students from multiple Willamette Valley Students for Life groups led the march.
Advocates from around the state joined at the Oregon Capitol to promote life and stand for the unborn. Some marchers displayed pro-life posters with messages like, “In Oregon, Abortion Is Legal Until Birth,” “Equal Rights for Humans Before Birth” and “Humans Begin in the Womb, So Do Their Rights.” The current restrictions did not allow for the typical road closure, but pro-lifers driving by greeted the event with friendly honks and waves. After a year of unknowns and isolation, attendees were excited to gather for such an encouraging event.
