March for Life: Some 300 gather as part of national anti-abortion events

PALMER — The Palmer Depot filled up with people passionate about the pro-life cause on Saturday just before the Alaska March for Life was scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

“I believe in the sanctity of life,” Valley resident Janet Gallardo said. “It begins at conception. And I’m here because of legislation that is against that, that seems to favor the termination of life. It’s an easy way to say, ‘I’m done with this.’”

She attended with her husband, Peter Gallardo, who is a pastor at the Family Christian Center in Palmer.

The march was part of a series of marches over the weekend nationwide, including, most notably, the March for Life in Washington, D.C.

Vice President Mike Pence, the highest ranking government official ever to attend the rally, told the crowd there, “Life is winning.”

Participants in the Palmer event seemed buoyed by the new administration.

“Now is the time to get the word out,” said Linda Barnett, who came out from Eagle River for the march. “We have a government that can align legislation that gives unborn children rights.”

Her friend, Cathy Medland, agreed.

“I think we’re going to look back at this time when abortion is legal, the way we look at slavery,” Medland said. “How did this ever happen? The time to end legalized abortion is now. Killing is never right, no matter what the situation.”

Chaz Rivas and German Baquero of Palmer walked along the approximately one-mile parade route in downtown Palmer. Rivas carried a sign that read, “Pre-born lives matter.”

Rivas said it was his first time participating in a march, although he does follow state politics.

“I appreciate the chance to express a pro-life opinion in a state with a community of others,” Rivas said.

Volunteer organizer Haylee Kurka said a total of 325 people came out for the march, according to counts made by volunteers.

A crowd estimated at upwards of 1,000 turned out for last weekend’s women’s march in Palmer, protesting the new president and his stated policies.

“I think it’s important to participate in events like the March for Life in order to show our community that we are aware of what is going on in our midst and that we are not OK with it,” Kurka said. “Abortion has been legally sanctioned in our nation for more than 40 years and has killed nearly 60 million innocent children. When we March for Life we are giving a voice to the voiceless and speaking up for those who don’t have the opportunity to speak for themselves.”