Life Chain Stretches Across U.S. for 22nd Year
Hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers and Christians in over 1,450 cities nationwide lined sidewalks Sunday to peacefully protest abortion.
And the messages they wanted to send were clear: "Abortion Kills Children" and "Abortion Hurts Women."
"While millions of Americans support abortion - some almost passionately - it's very difficult to find one American that would say they support the killing of children," said Royce Dunn, director of the 22nd annual National Life Chain.
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"It (the event)'s an opportunity for the corporate church and every city in town to come to the local sidewalks on Sunday … and enter into a very earnest hour of prayer on behalf of their local communities, state, and nation," Dunn told The Christian Post.
Aside from the event's two main messages, participants of the National Life Chain held signs stating "Adoption: The Loving Option" and "Lord, Forgive Us and Our Nation."
Though outwardly, the annual event may look like a protest, Dunn said the nature of the life chain is less focused on protest and more on prayer.
He said that he hopes God will work through the witness of those gathered in the Life Chain "to change hearts on abortion and save lives."
According to Barbara Meara, chairman of the Bronx Right to Life Committee in New York, one out of four babies in the United States is aborted. However, in some places, the rates are even more staggering.
"Here in the Bronx, we have as many abortions as live births," she told The Christian Post.
Meara said she hopes the Life Chain will remind young women that there are alternatives available such as pregnancy care centers.
Dunn, meanwhile, said that the event's main message, "Abortion Kills Children," is a God-send. He explained the message directly addresses the deep denial Americans have about what abortion is: the killing of children.
Over the past years, more and more people have participated in the Life Chain. Around 40 to 100 new cities have joined the event each year since 1992.
"We're just people across the country serving the Lord by serving the little ones," said Dunn.
Held annually on the first Sunday in October, Life Chain invites the churches in each city and town across North America to stand on a designated local sidewalk and pray for one hour, while holding one of the following seven approved pro-life sign messages.
The first Life Chain in 1987 drew over 2,000 participants. By 1992, the movement grew to nearly a million in the United States - spanning across more than 800 cities - as well as 80,000 in Canada, where 97 chains were formed.
