Pro-lifers across the nation are mourning the death of Nellie Gray who began the annual March for Life in protest of the tragic 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States.
A convert to the Catholic Faith, her deep belief in the sanctity of human life led her to organize an event to commemorate the first anniversary of the decision. The event would become the annual March for Life that has over the decades mobilized millions in defense of the unborn to march on the nation’s capitol every January decrying the decision to legalize the destruction of innocent unborn children.
Nellie Gray was the face and the voice of the March for Life as she annually emceed the event and exhorted pro-life marchers, priests, bishops and politicians to accept “no compromise” in ending the scourge of abortion in our nation. She could be controversial in her zealous crusade to end abortion but her steadfast defense of the unborn and tenacious commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade were a profound witness of what one voice in defense of life can accomplish. The nation has lost a prophetic voice of the voiceless unborn who continue to be subjected to the evil of abortion. However, that voice has not died but only grown louder and stronger thanks to Nellie Gray and her march. May we continue to follow her lead in the hopes that the voices of the march may end abortion in our nation.
