Valerie Hart, who traveled to D.C. for the vigil from Orlando, Florida, told CNA on Thursday night that she had booked her flights and accommodations for the March for Life "a few months ago."
The organizers of the March for Life announced Jan. 15 that the 2021 event would be virtual. Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life, cited both the pandemic and "the heightened pressures that law enforcement officers and others are currently facing in and around the Capitol" as reasons for the decision.
Mancini asked pro-lifers to "stay home" and watch a live-stream of the event, as a "small group of pro-life leaders" would still march in D.C.
Hart came to D.C. anyway, as she has every year since 2017. She said she was "heartbroken" when she found out the March was closed to the public.
"I just couldn't understand," she said. "Because all the protests that have been going on in D.C., and ours is getting canceled, basically."
Hart said it was important for pro-lifers to go to D.C. to "get their voices heard."
She told CNA that she planned on attending a pro-life rally Friday morning, one not organized by March for Life, and then would attempt to join the smaller in-person march of pro-life leaders.
"I guess we'll just walk along--I mean, they can't stop us from walking in D.C., right?" Hart said with a laugh.
"It's important to stand up for pro-life values, to stand up for the unborn, for all lives," she said. "It's important that people see that we're still here, and they can't stop us."
Christine Rousselle is a former DC Correspondent for Catholic News Agency. Prior to working at CNA, she was the managing web editor of Townhall.com; she has a BA in political science from Providence College.