Cedarville Students March for the Rights of the Unborn

By Ashleigh Clark

On Friday, October 4, 120 Cedarville students boarded two charter buses en route to Columbus, Ohio. Every student was there to protest abortion in the Ohio March for Life.

The group of 120 students was led by the Students for Life Org on campus and Communications Professor Dr. Andrew Harris.

Paige Johnson, a member of CU Students for Life, described the March as “the fight for the lives of the unborn in the state of Ohio.” 

According to Johnson, “It holds great significance not only because of our responsibility as citizens, but also as Christians.” 

CU Students for Life is a Pro-Life group on campus affiliated with Students for Life America. They seek to “be a voice for the voiceless,” according to their Instagram bio.

The weather was perfect for a rally. There were rows of tables set up by other pro-life organizations. They were offering pins, stickers, flyers, and posters. 

After touring the stands, a band got on stage and started singing worship songs. Cedarville students joined in singing immediately. This was an encouraging way to start the rally because it placed God at the center of the rally.

When the band was done, several people got up to speak about topics surrounding the pro-life movement. With Ohio Representative Josh Williams co-proposed a pro-life bill that would prevent state funds from going to abortion clinics and reallocate certain funding to pregnancy resource centers. This bill is still in committee and has not been passed yet. 

Toward the end of this portion of the rally, Cedarville students stepped away from the crowd to line up for the march. Cedarville was invited to lead the march and hold the “Ohio March for Life” banner. 

As they waited for everyone to line up, a group of abortion advocates lined up on the sidewalks to shout and criticize us. Megaphones and posters in hand, they announced “hands off our ovaries” and “abortion is healthcare.” In response to this, we decided to start singing classic Christian songs like “In Christ Alone” and “Amazing Grace.” 

Johnson cherished these moments of singing. 

“One of the most meaningful moments for me  was when we began singing as one united voice, glorifying the Lord despite the difficult circumstances,” Johnson said. “I felt a deep sense of peace throughout the march and with the outcome.”

Despite the protestors, the March for Life went smoothly. Cedarville students made so much noise that all of Columbus could hear them announce their support for unborn children. 

“We were so blessed that so many Cedarville students chose to join us last Friday to advocate for the unborn,” said Johnson. “I was reminded that God is sovereign and we can trust Him, no matter what the outcome may be.” 

Check out the Cedarville Facebook page for more photos of the event. 

Ashleigh Clark is a senior Political Science major. She loves hiking and playing video games with her fiancé.