Pro-Life groups not invited to Women's March on Washington

A pro-life activist holds a doll and banner while advocating his stance on abortion in this 2012 photo. | Reuters/Adrees Latif

Organizers of the Women's March on Washington are receiving flak from pro-life women activists, who, apparently, were not invited to the event. Some of these organizations reportedly applied to be organizing partners, but they never received a response.

The Women's March on Washington, which will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21, a day after President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, fashions itself as an inclusive rally meant to bring attention to the importance of women's rights.

"The Women's March on Washington will send a bold message to our new government on their first day in office, and to the world that women's rights are human rights. We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us," the March's website indicates.

While the event has not officially declared itself as pro-choice, its partners include organizations that are widely known to advocate and promote pro-choice principles. These include Planned Parenthood, the National Organization for Women, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Pro-life groups like the Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) and Feminists for Life shared with The Christian Post that they were not contacted by the Women's March on Washington organizers.

Former congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave, who currently serves as vice president of government affairs for SBA List, told the publication that the real intent of the March is to show opposition to Trump, who has strongly advocated pro-life sentiments. "Of course, there are other things too, but when you invite someone like Gloria Steinem, the message is all about abortion on demand," Musgrave stated.

Meanwhile, Students for Life of America (SFLA), one of the largest national youth pro-life organizations in the United States, is planning to crash the march. According to its president Kristan Hawkins, in comments sent to The Christian Post, SFLA attempted to be a partner for the March, but her inquiries were ignored by the organizers.

"Join Students for Life as we show those in attendance at the Women's March that the very thing they are marching against, violence against women, is what they are promoting and lauding with their support for abortion," the youth organization's Facebook page reads.

In a statement sent to The Christian Post, Women's March on Washington organizers reasoned out that they have been dealing with a lot of submissions from interested parties. They stated, "As you can imagine, we are receiving numerous requests from hundreds of organizations who have expressed an interest in becoming a partner for the Women's March."