Jonathan Roumie, who plays the role of “Jesus” in the groundbreaking series THE CHOSEN, will keynote the 50th annual March for Life – the first since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade – in Washington, DC, the pro-life organization announced Thursday.

In a press release, the March for Life Education and Defense Fund announced actor, director, producer and voice-over artist Roumie, who portrays “Jesus” in the fan-supported free streaming series THE CHOSEN, a drama about the life of Jesus and the calling of his first disciples, will keynote the pro-life organization’s Rose Dinner Gala on January 20.

“Jonathan has had the honor of being awarded several titles of Knighthood based on his ecumenical work in ministry and the arts and recently returned from Rome following an invitation to the Vatican for him to participate in a global summit of artists called to promote the faith through their artistic gifts,” March for Life noted.

The theme for this year’s event is “Next Steps: Marching Forward into a Post-Roe America,” one that expresses the need for pro-life activists “to continue boldly marching in defense of the unborn – both on the state and federal level – and advocating for a minimum federal standard to protect innocent life against radical pro-abortion legislation,” the organization said.

As the March for Life organization enters the post-Roe era, the route its annual pro-life demonstration takes will shift from its traditional path to the Supreme Court to walking past the place where Roe v. Wade was overturned and then heading on toward the Capitol building.

“The route is different, although the ending is similar to what it’s been in years past,” Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life Education and Defense Fund, told Paul Bedard at Washington Secrets.

“Instead of marching all the way up Constitution Avenue and taking the right on First Street, going past the Supreme Court, what we’re going to do is go in front of the Capitol,” the pro-life leader said. “We’ll go up Constitution and then take a right on Third Street and take a left on Independence Avenue and then still finish at the Supreme Court.”

The shift in the march’s path, she said, places “a stronger prominence on the Capitol.”

Additional speakers for March for Life 2023, the world’s largest annual human rights demonstration, include:

• Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who won the Dobbs Supreme Court case that overturned Roe v. Wade
• Coach Tony Dungy, New York Times bestselling author and Pro-Football Hall of Famer
• Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse
• Sister Mary Casey of the Sisters of Life
• Dr. Christina Francis, CEO-Elect of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Gina Tomes, program director of the Bethlehem House maternity home

We Are Messengers, the GMA Dove-nominated and K-LOVE Award-winning musical group, will perform at the pre-rally concert.

“We are overjoyed to welcome these inspiring leaders at this year’s 50th March for Life, the first in our post-Roe nation,” Mancini said in a statement and added:

With Roe now behind us, we are empowered to save countless innocent American lives by continuing to advocate for commonsense protections at the state and federal level, educating Americans on the intrinsic dignity of all human life. This year will be a somber reminder of the millions of lives lost to abortion in the past 50 years, but also a celebration of how far we have come and where we as a movement need to focus our effort as we enter this new era in our quest to protect life.

The March for Life Rally is Friday, January 20th beginning at noon Eastern on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

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Susan Berry, PhD is national education editor at The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Jonathan Roumie” by Movieguide®. CC BY-SA 2.0. Background Photo “March for Life” by March for Life.

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