Editor’s Note: Last names of students have been left out at the request of their parents and St. Joseph Catholic School.
A group of 12 eighth graders from St. Joseph School in Issaquah and Snoqualmie traveled with parishioners from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Issaquah to the state Capitol building in Olympia on Jan. 23 for the annual March for Life.
The pro-life event drew over 5,000 to the steps of the Capitol building the day after the 44th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. The demonstrators heard presentations from legislators who oppose abortion while at the event.
“It’s a way to show that we want to represent the voices of the unborn, who can’t represent themselves,” said Phyllis Duzenack, the co-chair of the church’s Respect for Life Committee. She has participated in eight marches in the past.
The Washington state March for Life has taken place for the past 39 years on or around the anniversary of the legalization of abortion on Jan. 22, 1973.
“We’ve done this as a tradition at the parish for at least the last 10 years,” Duzenack said. “We’re committed to doing this as a peaceful witness for the unborn.”
Duzenack said that St. Joseph offers other options for mothers in a crisis pregnancy, such as baby showers and drives that collect baby items for pregnant women in need of financial assistance. The church works with groups like Care Net and the Gabriel Project to aid expectant mothers.
“We want to provide alternatives to [mothers in a] crisis pregnancy,” she said.
Before arriving in Olympia, the parishioners attended a Mass dedicated to praying for the lives of unborn children at St. Martin’s University in Lacey.
St. Joseph’s Principal Peg Johnston said that the group of students went to the rally to embrace “the ability to go and make your voice heard.”
A former history and government teacher, Johnston said that the chance to stand up for their beliefs through the peaceful, constitutional rights of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly line up perfectly with the eighth grade curriculum, which focuses on the foundation of the United States. The event was open only to eighth graders due to the complexity and the seriousness of the topic.
Johnston said that it was important for the kids to “[see] that people can have a counter-view and it doesn’t have to be a brawl” and that disagreement in government and transitions of power are “things that are able to happen in a safe and peaceful way.”
“I learned that you can be respectful and peaceful in public demonstrations, and that helps your point get across better,” said Emily, one of the eighth graders who attended the event for the first time. “I also learned that life is very precious … for the first time, I really understood the miracle of life.”
“I realized what pro-life actually means,” said Phoebe. “Before, I had thought that it was just all about not giving women a choice. Now, I know that pro-life truly is about equality. Everyone really does have a right to life, no matter if they’re unborn babies, criminals who are put on death row, or people with terminal illnesses requesting assisted suicide.”
“I feel it was very important that I was part of this historical march,” said Christian. “We all had to show our beliefs and stand up for what we think … The March for Life not only supports an event for one’s belief in pro-life, but it also symbolizes unity, and shows that even if I have never met most of the people on those steps, our hearts all beat as one.”
