Virginians participate in March for Life as Generally Assembly reconvenes

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The 7th annual Virginia March for Life drew thousands of pro-life supporters to Capitol Hill on Wednesday as the general assembly reconvened to discuss Gov. Glenn Youngkin's vetoes and amendments, including the Right to Contraception Act.

People from all over the state, including Stafford resident Kyla Jackson, rallied at the state capitol and delivered a clear message to lawmakers -- they will not stop advocating for the protection of Virginia mothers and their unborn children.

"Seeing everybody here lets me know that there's a lot of people who feel the same way I do," Jackson said. "And I'm just hoping that people, you know, do more than march and actually take action to help save more babies." 

This year's march took on added significance as Youngkin amended House Bill 1716, or the Right to Contraception Act, several days ago, and coincided with the General Assembly's initial step toward enshrining unlimited abortion access into the state constitution.

Anti-abortion advocates, like Lieutenant Gov. Winsome Earle Sears, addressed the March for Life, delivering a passionate rallying cry: "We're not going to give up, are we? No! We're not going to quit, are we? No! Because somebody has to fight for the unborn."

In response to the march, a spokesperson for for democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger said:

“After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Abigail worked as a Member of Congress to protect Virginians’ access to reproductive care. Abigail strongly believes in Virginians’ fundamental right to privacy, right to access contraception, and right to plan and grow their family. As the next Governor of Virginia, Abigail will work to protect every family’s freedom to make their own personal healthcare decisions — including supporting the General Assembly’s effort to enshrine reproductive freedom in the Virginia Constitution." Abigail Spanberger, spokesperson

Youngkin's changes to the Right to Contraception Act were rejected on Wednesday, April 2.

Those amendments would have eliminated language defining what types of contraception are covered and how the new law would be enforced.