Thousands rally at post-Roe March for Life outside Pa. Capitol

Sep. 20—HARRISBURG — Hannah Davis raised her right hand above her head, her left hand holding that of her 2-year-old son who stood by her side, and sang in Christian worship on the front steps outside the Pennsylvania State Capitol.

Davis, of Hanover, and her five children rallied among thousands Monday in opposition to abortion.

The crowd joined in Pennsylvania's second March for Life, and the first such right-to-life march in the country, organizers said, since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in June. The event was held by the national March for Life organization in partnership with the Pennsylvania Family Institute.

For two years, Davis said she worked in a crisis pregnancy center. None of the women seeking services who underwent an ultrasound during her time at the center ultimately chose an abortion, Davis said.

"I think that if you don't stand for those who can't speak for themselves," Davis said, her four older children each clutching handmade signs with anti-abortion messages, "who is going to?"

The crowd amassed on the Capitol steps leading to North Third Street where a stage was set up to allow speakers like House Speaker Bryan Cutler and former Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Kathy Barnette, to address the audience and, symbolically, the Capitol itself.

The need for space and shade on a sun-drenched day led hundreds to gather on tree-covered lawns on either side of the steps.

Darlene Colvin and Toni Uderman were among dozens who traveled by bus from the greater Pittsburgh area, representing members of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg. Colvin said she attended the national anti-abortion march in Washington, D.C., across nearly 50 years.

For Uderman, Monday's march was her first.

The friends sat side by side on the Capitol steps and held a sign of their own that read: "Pro-life. Pro-Woman. Pro-Baby."

"We're here because we need to make our voices known that abortion is not acceptable," Colvin said.

"It took me years to finally stand up, and I'm proud," Uderman said.

As the rally continued outside the Capitol, inside, Democrats Elizabeth Fiedler and Emily Kinkead, representatives from Philadelphia and Allegheny counties, respectively, unveiled a package of health care bills supporting reproductive rights.

According to the representatives, the four-bill package would protect the licenses of abortion care providers, protect those seeking an abortion from prosecution and expand the number of health care providers who may provide an abortion.

"Democrats are exhausting every possible legislative avenue to solidify reproductive rights in our state. Despite the repulsive attacks elected Republicans launched on bodily autonomy this year, the overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians — of Americans — want abortion access to remain safe and legal, and these new bills would ensure that it does, including protecting access to legal care sought by out-of-state residents," Kinkead said.

Gallup polling shows a combined 85% of respondents say they support abortion being legal under certain or all circumstances.

Abortion remains legal in Pennsylvania up to 24 gestational weeks. While the Supreme Court decision returned regulatory power to states, nothing's changed with Pennsylvania's laws as Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, a staunch reproductive rights advocate, has vetoed three anti-abortion bills in his two terms and vows to continue until his time in office ends in January.

This year's gubernatorial race will likely determine the short-term future of abortion access in Pennsylvania. State Sen. Doug Mastriano, the Republican nominee, opposes abortion including exceptions for rape, incest and cases where a woman's life is in jeopardy. Attorney General Josh Shapiro, the Democratic nominee, pledges to protect abortion rights.

A proposed constitutional amendment pending final legislative approval seeks to ask Pennsylvania voters whether or not the state constitution guarantees access to abortion and access to taxpayer funding for abortion. If approved shortly after the new year, the ballot question could appear during the 2023 primary election.

The amendment isn't a ban itself, however, it would strengthen potential anti-abortion legislation that may be adopted in coming years.

State Rep. David Rowe, R-Snyder/Union, said it was exciting to witness large scale "pro-life support" outside the Capitol for the work led by Republicans inside the building intended to protect the right to life.

"It draws quite the contrast, as Michael Geer referenced, to the Democratic side that is actively campaigning for defunding the pregnancy care centers, Real Alternatives. The classic argument that Republicans aren't pro-life, they're pro-birth, falls completely flat when we are the ones funding maternal care organizations that outnumber abortion facilities in Pennsylvania nine to one," Rowe said.

The state budget allocates approximately $7.2 million to Real Alternatives, which operates 27 pregnancy care centers in Pennsylvania. The funding is criticized by reproductive rights advocates like the Women's Law Project.