MEdia Coverage
Please direct media inquiries to Tom Ciesielka, 312.422.1333, tc@tcpr.net
Press releases
2023 Press Coverage
Illinois March for Life Participants Proclaim “Women Deserve Better” as They Work to Influence State Legislators
Thousands Gather in Springfield to Celebrate “True Choice” Offered by Pregnancy Resource Centers
Thousands of pro-life advocates gathered at the Illinois State Capitol Building on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, for the Illinois March for Life. Civic and religious leaders spoke to crowd at the Lincoln Statue, several echoing the words of the Great Emancipator as they appealed to Illinois legislators to protect the women and children being preyed upon by the abortion industry. Immediate following the march around the Capitol, pro-life advocates met with state representatives and state senators to share how pregnancy resource centers offer tangible support to women through pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, cribs, car seats, parenting classes, diapers, clothes, and more.
March 21 Illinois March for Life Brings Thousands to Springfield Opposing SB 1909
Midwest’s Largest Pro-Life Gathering Counters Legislative Bid to Force Pregnancy Center Referrals for Abortion
Thousands of pro-life advocates are descending on the Illinois State Capitol Building on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, for the Illinois March for Life. Coming from across Illinois and the Midwest, the large pro-life crowd will rally at the Lincoln Statue, march around the Capitol building, then meet with lawmakers to advocate for the protection of unborn children and their mothers.
Illinois March for Life Chicago Responds to Opening of “Equity Clinic” in Champaign
Ohio Based Abortionist Not Providing “Authentic, Equitable” Care
“True equity includes caring for preborn children and giving their mothers the highest level of professional care and support,” stated Anna Kinskey, Executive Director of weDignify, in response to the news that Dr. Keith Reisinger-Kindle is opening a so-called “Equity Clinic” in Champaign, Illinois, to perform abortions on area women.
“As an OB-GYN, Reisinger-Kindle should be caring for both of his patients – the pregnant mother and her child,” Kinskey observed.
Pro-Life Advocates March in Chicago: Renew commitment to reverse Illinois’ extreme abortion laws
“We stand for life” was the message from hundreds of pro-lifers from throughout the Midwest who marched and rallied in downtown Chicago on Saturday, July 9, 2022. The March for Life Chicago Dobbs March and Rally brought people of all ages and backgrounds to Federal Plaza in support of preborn babies.
During the pre-march rally an impressive line-up of speakers encouraged attendees to advocate, to serve mothers and their babies and educate lawmakers and the community.
March for Life Chicago Executive Director Kevin Grillot told the crowd prior to the march down Michigan Avenue, “We thank God for the ruling that overturned Roe, but we here in Illinois must admit that other states such as Missouri, Kentucky, and North and South Dakota are showing us the right way to take care of mothers and their children. Illinois needs to catch up!” Grillot also cited that 60 million lives have been lost over the last 49 years with 20,000 preborn babies aborted every year in Cook County alone. “We have seen abortion is not the way to end poverty and it certainly does not create healthy families and strong communities. Governor Pritzker, the Midwest is not a place to destroy families, it is a place to raise them.”
Read the full press release here
March for Life Chicago to Rally July 9 in Downtown Chicago Following Dobbs Decision
Hundreds Expected to Call on Illinois Leaders to Protect Preborn Lives
The work is not over for members of the Pro-Life movement in Illinois. In fact, leaders say their work is more important now that the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health overturned Roe v. Wade, giving states the right to decide how they will protect preborn lives. The March for Life Chicago is mobilizing Midwestern pro-lifers at the Summer 2022 Dobbs Rally & March on July 9, 2022 at 2 PM (central) in downtown Chicago to offer prayerful thanks for the Dobbs decision and send a message to state legislators that preborn lives must be protected.
“I’m calling on all Midwesterners to march peacefully to let our governor know that the Midwest is a place to raise families, not profit off destroying them,” announced Kevin Grillot, Executive Director of the March for Life Chicago. “The pro-life movement stands ready with more than 95 pregnancy resource centers in Illinois alone, providing resources that care for both mother and child.”
Read the full press release here
March for Life Chicago Denounces Illinois Plans to Expand Taxpayer Funding of Abortion
Midwest Life Advocates Call Pritzker and Lightfoot “Out of Step” with Mid America
“The majority of Americans do not support taxpayer funding for abortion,” stated Anna Kinskey, Associate Director of the March for Life Chicago. “Yet, in the wake of the United States Supreme Court decision to uphold a state’s right to restrict abortion, Governor Pritzker and Mayor Lightfoot continue to ignore the people they represent to push their extreme abortion agenda at taxpayer expense.”
Supreme Court Dobbs Decision: Momentous Day for Human Rights
(June 24, 2022 - Chicago) The March for Life Chicago strongly affirms the United States Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision to return the issue of abortion back to the states. In the Midwest, the March for Life Chicago continues to advocate for preborn children and their parents, now with the primary focus at the state level.
“With more than 95 pregnancy resource centers in Illinois, the pro-life movement leads the Midwest in serving preborn children and their families. For far too long, the United States Supreme Court has denied citizens the ability to protect preborn life in their state. Today, the March for Life Chicago recognizes this momentous step in protecting the right to life,” says Kevin Grillot, Executive Director of the March for Life Chicago.
March for Life Chicago Condemns Illinois Governor’s Abortion Tourism Campaign
Pro-Life Advocates Rally to Protect Women and Children Post-Dobbs
(June 20, 2022 - Chicago) As the nation awaits the United States Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, the case that could overturn legalized abortion in America, March for Life Chicago is calling out Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and condemning his support of the most extreme abortion laws in the Midwest.
Pritzker, who signed away the last of Illinois’ abortion restrictions in 2019, has taken to the national stage touting Illinois as a destination for those seeking abortions. The governor, flaunting Illinois’ unrestricted abortion laws, announced that abortion would continue to be readily available in the state, “no matter what atrocious opinion the Supreme Court rolls out this summer.”
March For Life Chicago Rallies in Response to Dobbs Decision
March for Life Chicago rallies for Midwestern states to protect preborn children
(June 16, 2022 - Chicago) As the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson determines the fate of Roe v. Wade and preborn lives in America, the March for Life Chicago is mobilizing Midwestern pro-lifers to rally and march on Saturday, July 9, 2022 in downtown Chicago.
“With over 95 pregnancy resources centers, the pro-life movement works for Illinois to be a place for people to raise their families while Govenor Pritzker looks to make money off of destroying families across the Midwest through radical abortion laws,” says Kevin Grillot, Executive Director of the March for Life Chicago.
March for Life Chicago Statement on Parental Notification Ending in Illinois
(June 1, 2022) "Today is a tragic day for parents, girls, and preborn babies across the Midwest.
Effective today, Illinois strips parents of their rights to be involved in the medical care of their daughters and leaves girls increasingly vulnerable to sexual traffickers,” says Kevin Grillot, Executive Director of the March for Life Chicago.
“72% of Illinois residents supported the commonsense law.* Illinois is now the only state in the Midwest that does not have Parental Notification in place, an open invitation to out-of-state minors to pursue abortions in Illinois.
“We will not stop speaking up for parents, vulnerable girls, and preborn babies. On July 9, 2022, we call upon thousands of Midwest pro-lifers to stand up at the March for Life Chicago’s Dobbs Rally and March to show support for pregnant women in choosing life, including those in Illinois and the increasing number traveling to Illinois for abortions.”
*Tarrance Group, March 2021
March for Life Chicago Response to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s “Call to Arms”
(May 10, 2022) Annually, the March for Life Chicago unites thousands of Midwesterners to peacefully stand for life. The March for Life Chicago condemns Mayor Lightfoot’s “call to arms,” especially following a Molotov cocktail being thrown into a pro-life organization’s office just 150 miles from Chicago.
The March for Life Chicago calls upon Mayor Lightfoot, civic leaders, and all Midwesterners to peacefully build a society where preborn children and their parents are protected from the violence of abortion.
“Anti-Abortion Group in Wisconsin Is Hit by Arson, Authorities Say” - New York Times, May 8th, 2022
March for Life Chicago Response to Leaked Dobbs v. Jackson" Draft Opinion
(May 3, 2022) The Supreme Court decisions of Roe and Casey have led to the deaths of millions of preborn children and caused irrevocable harm to their families. As the Midwest’s largest pro-life event, the March for Life Chicago stands for the protection of life, especially preborn children and their mothers.
“Along with Mississippi, the vast majority of Midwesterners support banning abortions after 15 weeks, which is what the Mississippi law does. After 15 weeks gestation, abortions have dangerous complication risks to women, destroy the preborn child, and the overwhelming majority of Americans are against them. We strongly urge the U.S. Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson to uphold the Mississippi law, safeguard mothers, and protect innocent life.” states Kevin Grillot, March for Life Chicago Executive Director.
Women who experience second trimester abortions have much higher mortality rates, including a 38% increase risk for each additional week according to the Bartlett Study (Source).
Nearly two thirds of Americans oppose second trimester abortions and 80% oppose abortions in the third trimester according to a 2021 AP-NORC poll (Source).
Midwestern Pro-Life Advocates March in Chicago: “Ground Zero for the Fight for Life”
Thousands of pro-lifers from across the Midwest overflowed down Michigan Avenue in support of pre-born babies.
“Welcome to the battleground, welcome to the resistance, welcome to the March for Life Chicago 2022,” said weDignify student mentor Dante Bucci to thousands of life advocates gathered at Federal Plaza on Saturday, January 8, before they marched down Michigan Avenue to publicly witness for the rights of unborn babies.
During the rally, a full line-up of speakers including Representative Avery Bourne (95th District), Pastor Chris Butler, Kelly Dore, and Sr. Alicia Torres encouraged attendees to speak out for life - to advocate, to teach others, and to serve mothers and their babies.
Pastor Chris Butler and the March for Life Chicago Urge “Justice for Both”
(January 4, 2022)
Pastor Chris Butler and a diverse group of pro-life leaders will speak at the March for Life Chicago on Saturday January 8, 2022, to advocate for the lives of pre-born babies and mothers. They represent many pro-life advocates, both in the crowd on Saturday and throughout the Midwest, who recognize the value of human life in the womb.
As a pastor who has walked with women and their families through the difficulties of unplanned and unwanted pregnancies, Butler says, “We must work together for both the life of the mother and the life of the infant, Butler believes that that the solution should not be either women or infants but women AND infants.”
March for Life Chicago Responds to Governor Pritzker’s Signing of the Repeal of Parental Notification
(December 17, 2021)
"This is a tragic day for parents, girls, and unborn babies in Illinois and the entire Midwest", says Kevin Grillot, Director of the March for Life Chicago.
“By signing the repeal of the Parental Notification of Abortion Act, Governor Pritzker acted in opposition to 72% of Illinois residents who wanted to keep this commonsense law in place. Illinois is now the only state in the Midwest that does not have Parental Notification in place, an open invitation to out-of-state minors to pursue abortions in Illinois. This repeal strips parents of their rights to be involved in the medical care of their daughters and leaves girls increasingly vulnerable to sexual traffickers. ”
“We want the Governor and the abortion industry to know that we will not stop speaking up for vulnerable girls and their unborn babies. On January 8, 2022, thousands will gather in Federal Plaza and march down Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, as a sign of our unwavering support for each and every human life.”
March For Life Chicago Returns to Downtown Streets with a Focus on Saving Midwestern Lives
Midwest’s Largest Pro-Life Gathering Set for January 8 in Chicago Loop
(December 2, 2021 – Chicago) More than 10,000 pro-life activists are expected to gather in Chicago’s Loop on January 8, 2022, for the March for Life Chicago. Gathering from across Illinois and the Midwest, the largest pro-life crowd to date will march through downtown Chicago to advocate for the unborn, approximately one million of which are aborted every year in United States.
This year, the March for Life Chicago is focused on “Saving Midwestern Lives.” Illinois’ radical abortion policies draw women and girls from throughout Illinois, and the neighboring states of Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan, to get abortion on demand at any stage of pregnancy. The diverse crowd will assemble in the “Abortion Capital of the Midwest” to urge protection for these preborn children and their mothers from the proven ravages of abortion.
March for Life Chicago Reacts to Opening Arguments for Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
The March for Life Chicago, as the Midwest’s largest pro-life event, is closely following the oral arguments for Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, as the U.S. Supreme Court considers the constitutionality of the Mississippi law that bans abortions after 15-weeks gestation.
We affirm Mississippi’s step towards protecting all their citizens and we firmly believe the Supreme Court should recognize the state’s authority to make this decision.
“Abortions after 15 weeks have dangerous complication risks to women, destroy the preborn child, and the overwhelming majority of Americans are against them,” states Kevin Grillot, Director of the March for Life Chicago.
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“The vast crowd attest to the beauty of life.”
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Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield called on Illinois politicians 'to find compassion for the lives of the most vulnerable among us, the sacred human lives of unborn babies.'
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Thousands of anti-abortion protestors from all across the state took to the streets of Springfield on Tuesday for the “Illinois March for Life.”
They started with a prayer service led by Bishop Thomas Paprocki, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, at the University of Illinois Springfield. He and others are pushing for Illinois to change its law protecting abortion access.
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“[Illinois] should be a place where people can raise family rather than a place where people bring their children to end their lives.
Where Governor Pritzker is taking abortion law in Illinois — he’s aligned it with countries like North Korea and China and only a handful of other countries in the world that allow for abortion up until birth.
I don’t think we should be looking to raise funds and raise business off of the destruction of families, especially the destruction of innocent life.”
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June 24 2022 — "‘Today is a momentous day for human rights in America. Today thousands of children and their families are protected from the violence of abortion,’ said Anna Kinskey, associate director of March for Life Chicago.”
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June 24 2022 — The press conference at the Hilton Garden Inn with the March for Life Chicago, Illinois Right to Life, the Thomas More Society, the Embassy Church Network, and others is mentioned in this NBC5 Chicago article.
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June 24, 2022 — “Anna Kinskey, associate director of March for Life Chicago, said that while children in Missouri, Kentucky and South Dakota ‘are safe from abortion today’ and that other Midwestern states are likely to follow, ‘in Illinois, Gov. (J.B.) Pritzker continues to lead in the wrong direction.’”
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Kevin Grillot March For Life Chicago talks about the end of parental notification of abortion in Illinois.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO2GUPpOvdo
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“Protecting life and law, but we also support life, and that really means supporting women, supporting mothers and supporting their families,” Kinskey said.
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Kevin Grillot, executive director of March for Life Chicago, applauded the rollback of abortion rights protections, which have “led to the deaths of millions of preborn children and caused irrevocable harm to their families.”
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Chicago Crusader
As a pastor who has walked with women and their families through the difficulties of unplanned and unwanted pregnancies, Butler says, “We must work together for both the life of the mother and the life of the infant, Butler believes that that the solution should not be either women or infants but women AND infants.”
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Catholic News Agency
“During the past 24 months the March for Life Chicago network has tripled, and a new life advocacy mobilization program is set to be unveiled at the Midwest’s largest pro-life gathering,” he said of the Jan. 8 event. “While the llinois abortion lobby and legislators promote abortion and further separate parents from their children, pro-lifers from across the Midwest are uniting to march in Chicago to Save Midwestern Lives.”
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Chicago Tribune
Several hundred people gathered at Federal Plaza for the March for Life Chicago rally and march on Jan. 8, 2022, in Chicago. A group of abortion rights demonstrators also held a rally and march in protest.
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ABC 7
"You are here the year of the end of Roe," proclaimed Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, president, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
"We march today for respect for all human life that's the goal we need to pursue," said Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archdiocese of Chicago.
The event also looks to challenge the repeal of the parental notice of the Abortion Act in Illinois.
"Across this state and the Midwest we are standing up for women, we are standing up for babies," said State Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville)
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Live Action
On January 8, pro-lifers rallied together to advocate for the pre-born and protest the heavy presence of abortion in Illinois at the March for Life in Chicago. The march was hosted by weDignify, an organization that helps college students serve as effective pro-life leaders on their campus and within their communities.
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