IN THIS ISSUE...
From Our Director
It is all about the Supreme Court!

Elections have consequences, and it is a blessing to have a Supreme Court nominee who appears committed to trust the written wisdom of the U.S. Constitution rather than his own preferences. From what we can see now, Judge Neil Gorsuch will be a justice inclined to adopt deference to the will of a legislative body, unless its decisions run in conflict with express provisions of the U.S. Constitution. The recent Supreme Court decision striking down a Texas admitting privilege law is a classic example of justices replacing the decisions of an elected legislative body with their own.

Read National Right to Life's Press Release on Judge Gorsuch

This will be a fight, make no mistake about that! Many Democratic Senators are already promising a filibuster. Thankfully, our Senators are inclined to support Judge Gorsuch's nomination! We will need pro-life action across the nation to get Gorsuch on the high court.  Stay tuned for more information!

For a Pro-Life Louisiana,
Benjamin Clapper
March for Life
The new Louisiana banner led New Orleans students.

Large Louisiana Contingent Marches in Washington, DC

More than 2,000 pro-lifers from Louisiana joined hundreds of thousands of others from across the country at last Friday's March for Life in Washington, D.C. LARTL staff present said they feel it was the largest March for Life they had ever attended.

This year Louisiana Right to Life featured its new enormous "Louisiana is Preaux Life!" banner, and it no doubt stood out in the massive crowd. 
 
Groups from across Louisiana, both high school and college, marched, chanting and cheering along the way.

Click to view an amazing time lapse video of the entire March for Life!

The Preaux Life banner stands out in the crowd.
Talking About Issues
From left: Dr. Jeff White, Sharon Rodi, Sen. Bill Cassidy, and Benjamin Clapper.

Sen. Cassidy Talks Life With LARTL Team

Through the year, Louisiana Right to Life's team is in regular communication with our Senators and Congressmen on a number of key life issues.  While in Washington, DC last week, Louisiana Right to Life connected with a number of offices in person and met with Sen. Bill Cassidy at the U.S. Capitol to discuss several issues, including the judiciary, stopping assisted suicide, and protecting life in healthcare. We are appreciative of our pro-life Senators and Congressmen! 
Surprise!

Vitters Honored for Their Dedication to the Pro-Life Cause

Everyone knew Sen. David Vitter was being honored with the Proudly Pro-Life Award at the annual Proudly Pro-Life Dinner last month, but organizers and Sen. Vitter himself had a surprise planned.

Wendy Vitter, a strong pro-life advocate herself, joined her husband on stage when it was announced she and Sen. Vitter were both being honored with the Proudly Pro-Life Award.

Congratulations Wendy and David! 
Witnessing History


Ryan Verret represented Louisiana Right to Life in Washington, DC at the inauguration of President Donald Trump and witnessed the event live.
Oratory Contests

Pro-Life Oratory Contests This Month


 High school juniors and seniors, show off your skills at your local Pro-Life Oratory Contest!

You can win cash prizes (up to $300) and the chance to compete nationally at the National Right to Life Convention this summer.

All you have to do is present a 5-8 minute speech dealing with a pro-life topic, such as abortion, euthanasia, etc., to be considered.

For more information and to register, or to host a contest in your region, CLICK HERE.

We currently have information on three contests:

* New Orleans: Feb. 16, Jesuit High School Room 329, 6:30 p.m.

* Shreveport: Feb. 7, Catholic Center, 6:30 p.m.

* Lafayette: Feb. 23, Office of Pro-Life Apostolate, Diocese of Lafayette, 6-9 p.m.

Call Shanon Snyder at 866-463-5433 for more information. 
In the News
From Louisiana Life Marches to the announcement of a nominee for justice of the Supreme Court and topics in between, the local pro-life movement has been making the news.

* From Nola.com, reminding us about the truly special aspect of Louisiana's pro-life movement being bi-partisan!

* From Right Side Broadcasting Network, interviewing Loyola Students for Life at the March for Life in D.C.

Visit our Facebook page to find more media links! 
Training Pro-Life Leaders
First 2017 PULSE Immersion Weekend is NEXT Weekend!
Students: Don't Miss Out!  

"PULSE. It inspires people,
and it creates a passion
for everyone who goes,
and they spread it
to everyone around them."
 
"I left PULSE a different person.
I couldn't believe that I gave
a speech and talked to
strangers about such a
huge issue that I was so scared
to talk about. I try not to miss
the camps for anything." 
   

Students just like you left a PULSE Weekend experience and had those incredible things to say about it. Now it's your turn to be inspired!
 
The first PULSE Immersion Weekend is coming up in Baton Rouge next weekend, Feb. 10-12, and there is still a space for you!
 
You don't want to miss this opportunity to be trained as a pro-life leader. Sessions for all students include Pro-Life Culture, Persuasion and Pro-Woman Panel, and of course there are field trips. And our new college track includes sessions on Title IX, Adoption, Euthanasia, and College Pro-Life Persuasion and Activism.
 
There will also be fun activities for our students like the Ultimate Game of Games and PULSE Coffeehouse. 
 
Cost is $60. Click here to sign up today!
LA Students Geaux Forth!
LARTL's Krista Corbello and Alex Seghers stand in front of the crowd of 1,400 strong at Geaux Forth.

Louisiana Students Inspired at Geaux Forth Rally
4 New Groups Attend This Year
 
By Krista Corbello
Youth Programs Co-Director

1,423 Louisiana students, teachers, and parents joined together in Washington, D.C., last Thursday for Louisiana Right to Life's annual Geaux Forth youth rally. Everyone got fired up during the standing-room only event, ready for the following day's 44th annual March for Life.

High school groups from the Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Houma-Thibodaux, Acadiana and Lake Charles areas attended, including four groups attending for the first time - Opelousas Catholic, Vermilion Catholic and the Schools of the Sacred Heart from Acadiana and St. Matthew's from New Orleans.

In addition to the high school groups, college students from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Loyola, LSU and Nicholls were there. Our Louisiana Students for Life helped our Geaux Forth pro-life vendors, including Stand True, Students for Life of America, RockForLife, Crossroads, Life Matters Journal, Life Culture Apparel, and Abbey Youth Fest.

Lake Charles students at Geaux Forth

Geaux Forth included two general sessions. The first featured Deanna Wallace, former Legislative Director of Louisiana Right to Life and current Staff Counsel for Americans United for Life. She spoke on Pro-Life Feminism and shared her adoption story. The second session, titled Love in Action, featured Youth Programs Co-Directors Krista Corbello and Alex Seghers, who focused on the pro-life movement being compassionate in its activism.

Overall, students and teachers had a lot of fun while being inspired by the testimony of the speakers. A local Lafayette band, Letrainiump, played upbeat and life-loving music, and they were a hit with the crowd. The band had the crowd singing its original songs as well as popular music from Maroon 5, Taylor Swift, and Florence & The Machine.

One of our "regulars" from the Diocese of New Orleans told us this Geaux Forth was the "best one yet!" We were so glad to come together to inspire the youth of Louisiana to be brave pro-life leaders once we return home.
March With Us Saturday!
CENLA Pastors Brian Gunter and Joshua Dara promote the Life March on local television. Click to watch.

March to 'Protect Them Both' in CENLA on Saturday!
 
By Rev. Brian Gunter 
First Baptist Church of Pollock

Imagine thousands of pro-life citizens from across Louisiana coming together in one place to make a historic statement for LIFE. Imagine the impact we will make if we all stand together and March for Life.  

Saturday we have an opportunity to do just that!  We will join together in the center of our state to march from Louisiana College in Pineville to the Alexandria Amphitheater. Will you join us? Will you stand up for an abortion-free Louisiana?
 
The Louisiana Life March Central is the last of three marches around Louisiana. The event, in its second year, is expected to draw large crowds of pro-lifers who want their voices heard.

The march begins at 10 a.m. at Louisiana College in Pineville. It moves down Main Street, crosses the Jackson Street Bridge and ends at the Alexandria Ampitheatre, where a program is planned.

Speakers include Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry; Sancha Smith with Concerned Women of America; Bishop David Talley, Diocese of Alexandria; U.S. Congressman Ralph Abraham; Rev. Steward Holloway, pastor of First Baptist Church of Pineville; Bro. Kevin Cox, Louisiana District of Pentecostals; and Krista Corbello with Louisiana Right to Life. 
There will also be a ministry mobilization area set up outside the ampitheatre, and you will be able to learn more about pro-life ministries in the region.   

From the March for Life in Washington D.C., to our life marches across Louisiana, the crowds grow every year. We will win this battle!  LIFE is on the ascendancy in America, especially in Louisiana, a top pro-life state on a yearly basis!    

We will not give up. We will never back down until every life is protected from conception until natural death. Remember the words of the Apostle Paul: "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

***

Thousands of Louisiana pro-lifers marched in Baton Rouge two weeks ago and in Shreveport-Bossier last week. Click the links below to read about those marches.

Louisiana Life March South
Louisiana Life March North  

Photo by Darlene Aguillard
View More Photos from South March 

Photo by Kassie Richardson
View More Photos from North March
Upcoming Events
Feb. 4:
Louisiana Right to Life
ProLifeLouisiana.org     1.866.463.5433    @LARightToLife

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