Midwest March for Life on tap Saturday

Supporters walk the Missouri State Capitol sidewalks while passionately chanting their pro-life message at the 2016 Midwest March for Life.
Supporters walk the Missouri State Capitol sidewalks while passionately chanting their pro-life message at the 2016 Midwest March for Life.

The eighth annual Midwest March for Life is scheduled for Saturday in Jefferson City.

The event kicks off at 7:45 a.m., when attendees will meet in front of the Selinger Center at St. Peter Catholic Church, 216 Broadway St., and receive assigned prayer cards for legislators, executive officers and staff. The prayer teams will leave cards of encouragement at assigned offices.

The Selinger Exhibit Hall will open to the general public 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

The exhibit will feature about 20 life-affirming organizations, including area pregnancy resource centers, according to Kathy Forck, a co-organizer of the march. Light refreshments will be available.

About 1,000 people are expected to attend the event, Forck said, noting last year people came from not only Missouri, but also Illinois, Tennessee, Kansas and Arkansas.

A pre-march rally is to begin at 9:30 a.m. in front of the center.

Scheduled speakers during the pre-rally are Zina Hackworth of This Race Will Self-Destruct, Lou Holtmann of the Missouri State Council for Knights of Columbus, Patty Skain of Missouri Right to Life, and Chuck and Linda Raymond of Silent No More.

The march to the Capitol is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. It will proceed about three-quarters of a mile north past the Governor's Mansion to Madison Street, then to High Street toward the Capitol.

The rally on the first floor of the Capitol Rotunda is set to begin at 10:45 a.m.

This year's featured speakers are Reagan Barklage, a western regional director for Students for Life America, and Stacy Washington, host of "Stacy on the Right Show," broadcast in St. Louis.

Barklage holds a degree from the University of Missouri bachelor of journalism, with minors in business and political science. While a student at the university, she founded Mizzou Students for Life. Since graduating, SFLA has hired her full time. She manages the western half of the organization's Field Team.

Having spoken at multiple pro-life rallies, she has been featured in Glamour, LifeSite News, the Wall Street Journal and the HBO documentary "Abortion: Stories Women Tell."

Washington's show is broadcast on Urban Family Talk weekday afternoons, according to the Midwest March For Life website. She co-chairs the Project 21 National Advisory Council of the National Center for Public Policy Research, a conservative research foundation. She served in the U.S. Air Force during Operation Desert Shield as a weapons system analyst.

The opening prayer is to be presented by Larry Lewis. Other guests expected include Stacy Kromer, Bridget Van Means and Connie Eller.

Members of the Fulton Knights of Columbus Precious Blood Council 4454 are to provide lunch at the Selinger Center at noon. Chili and hot dogs will be available for a nominal fee intended to cover the march's costs.

St. Peter Catholic Church will hold a Mass for Life at noon.

Parking will be available in a municipal garage at 200 Madison St. For more information, visit midwestmarchforlife.com.