Liberty students lead Virginia March for Life in Richmond

On Wednesday afternoon, a group of about 100 Liberty University students led the seventh annual Virginia March for Life at the Virginia State Capitol and stood united with hundreds of other citizens to advocate for the unborn.

Students departed campus for Richmond early in the morning to raise awareness and support for the pro-life cause. Beyond just pushing for pro-life legislation in the Virginia General Assembly — with several lawmakers in attendance — participants advocated for the importance of crisis pregnancy centers that support families in the case of an unplanned pregnancy. The march began shortly after the Trump administration froze Title X funding for Planned Parenthood earlier in the morning.

Gerald Alan Weaver, a sophomore studying civil engineering, said he joined the march because of God’s commandment to protect life.

“God created us in an image of himself, and it’s important that we protect that image; birth does not begin at perception, it begins at conception,” he said. “Life should be protected. It’s treasured and holy to God.”

A pre-march rally was held at the Bell Tower in the Capitol Square. Guest speakers included Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, Del. Delores Oates, Bishop of the Diocese of Richmond Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout, Family Foundation of Virginia President Victoria Cobb, Saint Athanasius Lutheran Church Missouri Reverend James Douthwaite, Frederick Douglass Freedom Alliance of Virginia President and Pastor J.R. Gurley, pro-life advocate Shawnte Mallory, and more.

“We are in a wonderful country that allows us to speak our minds, and we’ve got to make sure that does not ever escape us,” Sears said. “We stand for life. How can it ever be wrong to stand for life? We’re not going to give up, are we? We’re not going to quit, are we? Because somebody has to fight for the unborn.”

Oates shared how she became a mom at the age of 16.

“One reason that I stand before you as a successful mom at 16 is because I had women and church members who walked alongside me, who held my hand, who helped me parent, who walked with me while I went to college so that I could fulfill my purpose in God and still be the mom to this incredible young man that He gave me,” she said. “Life is given by the Holy One, and we need to honor that and spread the word that you were meant to be here, you have a purpose, and you have something to fulfill as a human being. Our young people need to hear the hopeful message of life.”

The march commenced at noon, with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin holding the banner alongside Liberty students.

“It was really cool to lead the march with the governor,” said junior business administration and data analysis student Joshua Yamashita. “It was really encouraging to see someone who is so passionate about politics but also so passionate about standing for life, and it was really encouraging to see young people united over this too and standing up against abortion.”

Liberty announced earlier this week that Youngkin will give this year’s keynote Commencement address.

Sophomore international business and nonprofit management student Madelyn Harris said she was grateful that Liberty and the Standing for Freedom Center offered the trip, making it easy to stand together united.

“I’m here to support what needs to change, and the best way to do good is to not ignore evil but instead overcome it with good,” she said. “I should be bold in my faith and what I believe in, and this is a good way to do that.”

Cobb said she was excited to see Liberty students taking a lead in the March for Life.

“We are thrilled to see so many young people out here. We know that the young people are the face of the next generation of pro-lifers and that they are going to be the ones who make the difference. We’re thrilled to have (Liberty students) lead our march,” she said. “There was once a day where life couldn’t be protected to the fullest extent, but now we can do that in our state, and so it’s going to be about young people standing and being the voice for the unborn, and it’s their time to shine. We need them to be the ones out front.”