Around 2,000 people gather for 53rd annual Walk for Life in Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Nebraska Right to Life hosted the 53rd annual Walk for Life on Saturday.

Anti-abortion advocates flooded the streets outside the Nebraska State Capitol building before making their way to the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel.

Their goal was to stand up for unborn babies and their mothers.

“We’re all unified with one cause, just being appreciative of life,” said Lori Weskamp, an anti-abortion advocate. “When you have numbers, you have power and support and commander, and that’s huge. It’s huge in anything you go through in life, when you have someone going through the same thing you are, and believing the same thing, it causes strength.”

More than 2,000 people came together to hold signs, take a moment of silence and share their stories.

Several officials spoke out during the rally, including Congressman Mike Flood, Governor Jim Pillen, Attorney General Mike Hilgers and more.

Before the march, the group released dozens of balloons to represent children who have died from abortion.

And for many who attended, it was personal.

“I’m a recent father of a kid that’s nearly one-year-old,” said Jeremiah, a pastor at Gentle Shepherd Baptist Church. “I love babies, I love protecting babies. It’s commanded to us in the scripture, so it’s my passion and my conviction to stand for the rights and the lives of the unborn.”

Channel 8 reached out to ACLU of Nebraska, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska, Women’s Fund of Omaha, Nebraska Abortion Resources and Protect Our Rights Nebraska.

Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska, Andi Curry Grubb, sending this statement:

“Right to Life does not reflect the views of our state. The majority of Nebraskans support safe and legal abortions. Abortion is essential health care. At a time when there’s a growing health care crisis in the state, Nebraskans want lawmakers focused on real solutions, not attacks on abortion and bodily autonomy that will only deepen the current crisis.”

A small group of abortion rights advocates were also at the Capitol, standing in a designated area further from the crowd.

One of the advocates told Channel 8 “Abortion is healthcare. It should be up to a woman what she does with her body.”