January 2020 – Article 1:

Once a year, those who value the Personhood of every individual have the opportunity to make a powerful, demonstration of defending innocent life.

Everyone who wants to bring public attention to the tragedy of abortion is strongly encouraged to register and then join other pro-life supporters for the 2020 annual March for Life on Wednesday, January 22^nd.

Sponsored by Georgia Right to Life (GRTL), the event will begin with a memorial service at Liberty Plaza in Atlanta at 11:30 a.m., followed by a silent, one-mile march through the city.

The guest speaker will be Endia Bass, founder of “Out from Among Them Ministries.”

“We’d like this year’s march to be the biggest ever,” said GRTL President Ricardo Davis. “There’s still a lot of work to be done in Georgia to protect pre-born children, as well as the elderly and infirm.”

In addition to making a public statement, the march is a powerful and rewarding experience for those who take part.

For Atlanta resident Samantha Harrell, who will be attending her first march, the event is an opportunity to live out her faith in God.

“You’re most like Christ when you follow His commands to shepherd and assist the weak, the defenseless, the voiceless and the poor,” Harrell said. “I believe the march helps to humanize that mission.”

Harrell said her motivation is driven by the thought of “the defenseless, innocent babies in the womb suffering and dying during an abortion.”

She adds: “We’re called to rock the boat, rattle the establishment, flip some tables over, and speak out against abuses carried out by those in power, regardless of the consequences.”

Robert Martinez of Cumming, who will participate in his fifth march, first learned about the horrors of abortion as a young child when he found photographs of aborted babies his pro-life parents had.

“My mother explained how terribly wrong it is to kill pre-born children and that impression has been with me ever since,” Martinez said.

“Science has established that human life begins at fertilization and that only confirms what God’s Word proclaims,” he said.

“When I march, I think of the pictures I saw as a child and am reminded of what my mother told me. My participation is for the millions of baby humans killed; for my mother and family; and for God’s truth,” Martinez added.

REGISTER

Encourage others to attend and register your commitment and intent to participate.

RAIN OR SHINE EVENT
The Georgia March For Life is a rain or shine event, there will be no cancellation due to inclement weather.

PARKING** AND DIRECTIONS

Directions to the Capitol and Liberty Plaza – Liberty Plaza is located at the corner of Martin Luther King and Capitol Avenue across from the Capitol

**Please note – No matter which direction you arrive from, you’ll need to park off site and then walk to Liberty Plaza. The closest least expensive parking can be found at the Pete Hackney Parking Deck at 162 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE Atlanta, 30303

Bus Parking: Buses and 15-passenger or larger vans are allowed to park on the west side of Washington Street in front of the Capitol on most week days. Capitol events or security threats may make this space unavailable. In those cases, buses will be rerouted by Capitol security.

Automobile Parking: Public parking surrounding the Capitol can be found on this interactive map https://en.parkopedia.com/parking/garage/pete_hackney/30303/atlanta/?arriving=201912231530&leaving=201912231730

Parking fees vary by lot. Certain lots may be closed due to the legislative session. Be aware that a credit card may be required for payment.

The following lots are always open to the public if spaces are available:

–Pete Hackney 162 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive Atlanta, GA 30303** closest to Liberty Plaza
–Steve Polk Plaza Parking is located on M.L. King, Jr., Drive, one block from the Capitol
–A surface lot is located on Memorial Drive, one block from the Capitol
–Underground Parking: A parking garage is located on the north side of Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, two blocks from the Capitol.

From the South:
Take I-75/85 North to Exit 245 (Capitol Avenue).
At the bottom of the exit ramp, continue straight through the stop sign.
At the first traffic light, turn left onto Hank Aaron Drive.
Liberty Plaza will be approximately one mile down on the right.

From the North:
Take I-75/85 South to Exit 248A (Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive).
Bear right onto Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.
Liberty Plaza will be on the left just before you get to the Capitol.

From the East:
Take I-20 West to Exit 58A (Capitol Avenue).
Turn right on Capitol Avenue.
Liberty Plaza will be approximately one mile down on the right.

From the West:
Take I-20 East to Exit 56B (Windsor St./Spring St./Stadium).
At the third light, turn left onto Central Avenue.
Go to Mitchell Street and turn right.
Liberty Plaza will be two blocks down and directly in front of you at the traffic light.

Pete Hackney Garage: One local parking garage is the Pete Hackney Garage at 162 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30303. It is opposite the back side of the Georgia State MARTA station, 2 blocks from the Capitol

Directions: Take the MLK exit off 75-85. Take the first Right (Jesse Hill Dr) and drive under the tubes and MARTA tracks overhead. There are two garage entrances in that block—take the second one. The cost for daily parking is $10 and payable upon entry. A credit card may be required for payment.

EVENT FAQs

Will the event be rescheduled due to inclement weather? The Georgia March For Life is a rain or shine event, there will be no cancellation due to inclement weather.
Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event? There are no ID or minimum age requirements. The Georgia March For Life is a family-friendly event permitted by the City of Atlanta who will provide security at the Memorial Service and March. Small children must be in strollers or under close supervision.
What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event? For a list of several parking options in downtown Atlanta, as well as driving directions from around the city, visit http ://www.libs.uga.edu/capitolmuseum/about/directions.html.
What can I bring into the event? Signs are permitted at the event but they must be hand held and are not allowed to have sticks or posts attached. A personal picture ID is required in the event you intend to enter the State Capitol Building. The event will be conducted at Liberty Plaza and in the public right of way along Atlanta city streets.
How can I contact the organizer with any questions? For more information, please call the Georgia Right to Life office at 770.339.6880, or email stateoffice@grtl.org.

For more information, please call the Georgia Right to Life office at 770.339.6880, or email stateoffice@grtl.org

By Wayne DuBois

Georgia Right to Life

Media Relations Advisor