March for Life has strong Butler presence
Ten buses carrying more than 400 county residents headed for the nation's capital early Friday morning to proudly participate in the 2018 March for Life.
Ray Ferguson of Butler Township said the legislators who spoke out against abortion at the rally preceding the 1.5-mile march agreed that the 2018 turnout was the biggest they had ever seen.
“That tells me that the tide is turning in the country and people are tired of our current laws on abortion and they want to see a change,” Ferguson said.
He said while most of those in attendance were Christian, opposition to abortion is a societal one.
“Even if you don't have faith, from a secular sense, it's an injustice,” Ferguson said. “Life is created and you have to let it take its course.”
Ferguson has attended 27 March for Life events over the years.
“We're standing up for those who can't speak for themselves,” he said.
President Donald Trump spoke at the rally in the Mall area from the White House Rose Garden via live video feed. Several congressmen and senators and others also spoke to the huge crowd.
From the Mall, participants made the short walk to Constitution Avenue for the march.
Ferguson said the seemingly chaotic march itself consists of singing, chanting anti-abortion sentiments and praying.
“I highly recommend it,” Ferguson said. “It's an awesome time of fellowship with people in your community and your nation.”
Gretchen Cararie organized the trip for county residents. This year's event marks her 44th march in the 45-year-old event.
“I missed the first one,” Cararie said. “We had just adopted our first child and I wasn't about to leave for anything.”
Cararie said she has worried that the numbers on the buses to the March for Life would shrink, but she has had a robust turnout every year.
“We always have a nice group of young people and we need to get that message to them,” she said.
She said her bus, which departed from Holy Sepulcher Catholic Church in Middlesex Township, saw folks talking about various issues and watching DVDs regarding the anti-abortion movement.
“There are always a few people who have never been to the march,” Cararie said, “so I talk to them.”
In addition to the rally and march, Cararie said county residents attended an event at the Rayburn Building in which U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd, talked about two pieces of anti-abortion legislation that were to be voted on Friday.
“We have to change the minds and the hearts of the people regarding what happens legislationally,” Cararie said.
On the way back home, the marchers wound down from the whirlwind event.
“We relax and share stories,” Cararie said.
The veteran marcher was very happy with the 2018 March for Life.
“It was very impressive and very large,” she said.
