Grand Rapids, Mich. -– Tuesday, January 22 will mark the 46th year of legalized abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. The decisions allow abortion through all nine months of pregnancy for any reason.

In the past 46 years, legalized abortion has ended the lives of an estimated 59 million children in the womb.

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, “This is an unthinkable number of deaths that continues to grow each year. We must stand firm in our opposition to this tragedy.”

Prolife people mourn the loss of life, but remain optimistic about the future. Last year saw several significant prolife victories.

President Donald Trump made another Supreme Court nomination after Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement. Justice Brett Kavanaugh is potentially the fifth vote on the Court needed to overturn or significantly weaken Roe v. Wade.

In May 2018, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of prolife pregnancy centers in the case NIFLA v. Becerra , protecting their right to free speech.

The Centers for Disease Control released their annual report on the number of abortions in the U.S., showing the lowest recorded number of abortions since 1973. Abortions in the U.S. decreased 24 percent since 2006 and have been declining since 1990.

Listing said, “Now is a time to be encouraged by all the prolife movement has accomplished and to renew our determination to see an end to the millions of deaths brought about by abortion.”

On January 18, 2019, hundreds of thousands of prolife individuals traveled to the nation’s capital to show their support for the lives of unborn child in the annual March for Life. Right to Life of Michigan affiliates took 18 buses with more than 900 people to the March for Life, and hosted many local events to mark the 46th memorial of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton.

For more information: Right to Life of Michigan Director of Communication/Education Chris Gast, (616) 532-2300, [email protected].

Background information:
Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton
Abortions Since Roe v. Wade
NIFLA v. Becerra
CDC Abortion Report