Thousands attend Illinois Pro-Life March in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — Thousands descended on the Capitol in Springfield Tuesday for the Illinois Pro-Life March. The event, which drew several notable conservatives, was aimed at protesting the state’s abortion laws.

“I want to pray in a special way today for members of the Democratic Party that are promoting abortion,” Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki told the crowd. “Gov. (JB) Pritzker and the Democrats, they keep pushing abortion legislation. I pray that God will touch their hearts and will change their hearts.”

The rally featured former Republican Rep. Jeanne Ives’ return to Springfield. Ives nearly dethroned Gov. Bruce Rauner in the 2018 gubernatorial primary, receiving 48.5% of the vote. Ives had capitalized on anger toward Rauner after he signed legislation that expanded public funding for abortion and eliminated a trigger law that would’ve made abortion illegal when Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.
On Tuesday, Ives directed her frustration toward Pritzker and his Think Big America political action committee.

“He didn’t fund an organization that would alleviate poverty, improve education, build housing or any other worthwhile endeavor that a man of his means could do,” Ives said. “No, instead he has invested his millions in promoting abortion. It’s pitiful. He’s pitiful.”

Rally-goers also opposed legislation being considered by the General Assembly that could legalize a controversial practice known as “medical aid in dying” or “assisted suicide” that proponents say could ease suffering for the terminally ill.