August 14, 2012: Pro-life leaders across the country are mourning the death of Nellie
Gray, who started the annual March for Life parade to protest the 1973 Supreme Court
decision legalising abortion nationwide. Dr. Charmaine Yoest, president and CEO of
Americans United for Life, described Gray as "a visionary woman" with "a fierce heart
that valued all people - born and unborn."
The annual march has become a "visual
reminder of the broken hearts of millions of Americans who continue to struggle with
the callous attitude of the abortion industry toward unborn children and their vulnerable
mothers," she said.
On the evening of Aug. 13, news broke that Gray had passed
away over the weekend in her Washington, D.C. home. She was 86 years old. Born in
Big Spring, Tx., Gray served in the Women's Army Corps during World War II and worked
for nearly 30 years for the U.S. Department of State and Department of Labor.
In
1974, Gray helped found the March for Life as a way to commemorate the one-year anniversary
of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion throughout the United
States. The march has become an annual event, drawing hundreds of thousands of people,
including youth from all over the nation, to stand up for the dignity of human life
in the nation's capital. News of Gray's death was met with sorrow from leaders of
the pro-life community, as well as praise for the work that she accomplished.
Marjorie
Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List, said that Gray "began
and maintained a purity of intention rare to any human rights movement." She explained
that Gray relied upon "the power of the Holy Spirit" to guide her, and showed that
this was "more effective than all the political strategy this world could formulate."
U.S.
Congressman Chris Smith (R-N.J.), co-chairman of the House Pro-Life Caucus, applauded
Gray's commitment to the march, even "in the worst of weather and poor health." Without
a doubt, he said, "countless preborn children have been saved" by Gray's leadership,
and "millions of lives have been touched." Observing how the annual march "refuels
the passion of pro-life Americans," Smith vowed that the pro-life community will continue
Gray's legacy "of unceasing commitment to defending the unborn."
Catholic professor
and researcher Michael J. New reflected in a National Review Online article that while
pro-lifers may be tempted to take the March for Life for granted, it is "actually
a remarkable achievement," uniting scores of pro-life groups across the country, despite
their differences in strategy and religious belief.
In addition, New said,
many people do not realize that Gray - who had a law degree from Georgetown University
- was also influential in crafting ideas for a Human Life Amendment that could be
added to the U.S. Constitution.
Yoest said that Gray will be missed at the
upcoming march, but added that the pro-life community will continue in her footsteps
"with deep gratitude for the example she set of sacrifice and commitment to the human
rights struggle of our day."