January 22, 2025 | Press Release
ST. PAUL — Thousands of Minnesotans joined the 52nd annual MCCL March for Life today at the state Capitol to call for restored protections for vulnerable human life. Abortions have risen 39 percent in two years as lawmakers and Gov. Walz have enacted sweeping polices enshrining unlimited abortion, expanding taxpayer funding of abortion, and repealing protection for born-alive infants as well as a program supporting pregnant women and new mothers.
“Governor Walz and his DFL trifecta have taken us from the Land of 10,000 Lakes to the Land of 14,000 Abortions—14,000 women wounded and 14,000 unborn children killed,” MCCL Co-Executive Director Cathy Blaeser told the crowd gathered from across the state. “We stand here today in tremendous hope as we move forward to restore protections for parents, for women, for victims of trafficking and abuse, for families, for newborn babies, and for the unborn.”
During today’s program, Jean Marie Davis—now the director of a pregnancy resource center—powerfully shared her experience of being trafficked in 33 different states, including Minnesota, spotlighting the need for more protections for women and babies. “Both of my children were [intended to be killed] by my pimps,” she said. “My life was literally at the brink of death.” She visited a pregnancy resource center wanting to have an abortion, but “heard the heartbeat of my son, and because I heard the heartbeat of my son, I now can say my son Jonah is 10 years old.”
MCCL also introduced its legislative agenda, which includes bills to combat coerced abortions and to restore protection for born-alive infants. Many state lawmakers attended and were introduced to the crowd.
The annual MCCL March for Life, which has been held each year since 1974, marks the anniversary of the legalization of abortion. A total of 14,124 unborn children died from abortion in 2023, according to the Minnesota Department of Health, marking a 16 percent increase over the previous year and a 39 percent jump since 2021.
Video of today’s March is available online.