Although the temperature was only about 15 degrees in Trenton Jan. 24, it didn’t stop Rita Duenas from standing outside the statehouse to show her support for defending human life.

Bundled from head to toe and energetically waving an anti-abortion sign at the annual New Jersey Rally for Life, Duenas said that coming together on a day with such frigid weather only further emphasizes the commitment that pro-lifers have to their cause.

“This is when it is most important to show our support for life, to make our presence known to our legislators that we are here to defend the unborn, to defend the children in the womb who cannot speak for themselves,” said Duenas, a resident of Freehold and a member of St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck.

As members of the NJ State Senate and Assembly took to the podium, one after another, to affirm their commitment to supporting pro-life legislation, Duenas remarked that it was an inspiration for those who support the defense of human life – from conception until natural death – to continue their efforts.

“It gives us hope that maybe we are finally turning the tide now,” she said. “We are going to make a difference.”

The rally, organized by New Jersey Right to Life and held each year to mark the anniversary of the Jan. 22 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, provides a local outlet for those who wish to voice their support human life but are unable to make the trip to Washington for the national March for Life.

This year, the list of speakers for the event included Governor Chris Christie, who shared his own conversion story of coming to understand the pro-life position when he first heard the heartbeat of his daughter while she was still in the womb 15 years ago.

“It was at that moment that it became clear to me that being on the sidelines on this issue was not something that I could live with, and that I needed to speak out in favor of the very simple idea that that child is a life which deserves protection,” Christie said.

Christie, the first New Jersey governor to take a strong pro-life stance since the Roe v. Wade decision, has held to his pro-life ideals since taking office last January, including the veto of a bill that would have given funding to Planned Parenthood. Before a cheering crowd, he promised to continue to uphold the pro-life position as governor.

“What we need to do each and every day is to live our lives in a way that encourages everyone to understand why this cause is so important, to show that we respect the life of every human being and that every human being is one of God’s creatures and deserves the love and respect that God gives to all of us,” said Christie.

“So for as long as I have the honor of serving as governor of this state, you will know that you have someone sitting in that office who understands this issue, who appreciates it and will continue to stand up and speak strongly in favor of the protection of every human life.”

That message came as good news to those who have been frustrated by the legislature’s continued attempts to pass bills that would provide state funds to Planned Parenthood. Darlene Dunn, who was denied an opportunity to testify in opposition to such a bill in November, spoke at the rally about her own encounter with Planned Parenthood and the senate’s unwillingness to listen to her testimony on the subject.

Dunn recounted to the audience her story of becoming pregnant and walking into Planned Parenthood as a scared teenager. Despite asking for assistance with exploring options such as adoption, Dunn said the staff heavily pressured her into having an abortion, a decision she still regrets. When she attempted to share this story with the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee as evidence to why they should not fund Planned Parenthood, however, she was stopped during her testimony.

“I had no freedom to speak that day, just like I had no freedom to speak when I was in Planned Parenthood’s office as a young woman,” said Dunn, a resident of Burlington. She added that she is motivated to speak up on behalf of all women who have been led to think that abortion is their only choice and have suffered emotional distress after having ended their pregnancy. 

“My heart goes out to the other millions of men and women who had to endure what I did,” she said.

For Vince Konchan and Conrad Zabinski, both members of St. Theresa Parish in Little Egg Harbor and longtime pro-life advocates, the inspiration to continue their efforts comes from seeing the large percentage of young people in attendance.

Zabinski noted that this was his third consecutive year attending the rally and that each year there seems to be a stronger representation of youth, a phenomenon that has also been seen at the national March for Life each year.

“We come here every year, and it is just great to see these kids here to support the unborn,” Zabinski said.

“That’s what we need to back us up,” added Konchan. “As we get older, we need to have the youth coming in to keep this going.”