JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Hundreds of people gathered in the Capitol rotunda Tuesday for the first Missouri Right to Life (MRL) rally of the year. Stalls from various anti-abortion advocacy groups lined the rotunda, and members of the pro-life movement filled the first floor of the Capitol building to rally against abortion practices in the state of Missouri.
Dave Plemmons, the chair of the MRL’s political action committee, said the purpose of the rally was to let supporters of the anti-abortion movement know that they could influence their political leaders with their presence.
“First of all, we want to motivate the grassroots to participate in the process,” he said. “We want them to understand that there’s a way that they can affect change in the legislative process by being a part of it. The Senate and the House are responsive to when citizens take the time to come to Jefferson City.”
While many members of the movement spoke at the rally, many politicians working on measures also spoke about their appreciation for the movement, including Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder. Kinder spoke about his time passing pro-life legislation when he served in the Senate and thanked the efforts of the MRL and its supporters to voting in anti-abortion candidates.
“All honor and all credit to you who are in the trenches year after year,” he said. He also told those attending the rally that he was honored to be able “to count myself among your number.”
Sens. Bob Onder and Will Kraus, as well as Reps. Keith English and Bill Kidd also spoke at the event. Plemmons says bills like theirs have come at a critical time in the movement because the allegations against Planned Parenthood, which have come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks, have “moved the ball in a lot of ways.”
He’s confident that Missouri can make laws which continue to limit access to abortion that will stand up to scrutiny at the national level.
“Missouri’s been a leader in pro-life legislation, and I think we have the experience and the knowledge legislatively and cause them to be really looked at even if it makes it to the national level, whether that be to the courts or Congress,” he said.
It was a great honor to host so many from the #ProLife movement today in my office. cc @MORightToLife pic.twitter.com/bWzlXiDOiQ
— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) February 9, 2016
Before and after the rally, attendees visited with lawmakers around the Capitol.
