A Call to Stand for Life
Before the march began, rally speakers encouraged attendees not only to stand publicly for life, but to continue advocating for the unborn, for women in crisis, and for life-affirming public policy in California.

California Family Council President Jonathan Keller opened the rally by celebrating both returning marchers and first-time attendees. He told the crowd, "This is one of my favorite events every single year because we get to come here on the steps of the State Capitol in front of our legislature, in front of the governor, in front of the courts, in front of the media, and we get to proclaim that life is precious."

That message was echoed throughout the event: every human life bears God-given dignity and deserves protection.

Prayer and Public Witness
The rally began in prayer with Pastor John Randall of Calvary South OC, who had just seen a sonogram of his unborn granddaughter the day before. Reflecting on that moment, he said, "Seeing that tiny life so clearly was a beautiful reminder of why I'm here today. It inspired me to stand with you to march for life." He then prayed that God would tear down "the spiritual walls of darkness, of deception, of indifference that surround this capital."

Encouragement from Pro-Life Legislator
Assemblywoman Leticia Castillo also addressed the crowd and thanked those who traveled from across the state to be a public voice for unborn children. Standing behind her in support were her colleagues, Assembly members Alexandra Macedo and David Tangipa. Castillo reminded marchers that their presence matters not only on one day each year, but in the daily work of shaping public policy. Castillo said, "Your presence and partnership truly give encouragement to legislators like me. It strengthens our resolve to keep advocating for life to protect the most vulnerable among us." She urged attendees to remain engaged long after the rally ended: "Continue the march. Not just for today, not just for the rally, but for every single day. Keep showing up. Keep speaking out, and keep praying."

CFC Vice President Greg Burt called marchers to take the next step after circling the Capitol: visit their legislators' offices and advocate for two life-affirming bills, AB 1628 and AB 2073, both designed to strengthen California's Safe Surrender law. He reminded the crowd that while California lawmakers too often expand abortion, these bills offer concrete ways to protect vulnerable newborns and mothers in crisis.

Powerful Personal Testimonies
But some of the most powerful moments of the rally came from speakers who shared deeply personal stories about abortion and choosing life.

Charlie Gouailhardou, a 17-year-old abortion survivor from Riverside, told the crowd that her story began when her young parents drove to Planned Parenthood believing abortion was their only option. Then, as she recounted, something extraordinary happened: "When my mom went to open the door, she simply couldn't get out. She felt weighed down in the seat of her car." Charlie declared, "The Lord saw me in my mother's womb. He saw me, protected me, and loved me. And a few months later, I was born."

Her testimony became even more moving as she described the pain of later learning that her parents had once planned to abort her. As a child, that revelation left her wounded and isolated. Yet over time, the Lord used her mother, grandmother, and pro-life ministries to bring healing and purpose. Charlie testified, "My mom chose life." Today, she says that because God spared her life, she has a responsibility to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

From Abortion to Life
Another unforgettable testimony came from Elizabeth Barrett, who shared how she nearly went through with a chemical abortion before finding help through abortion pill reversal. Elizabeth described sitting in Planned Parenthood feeling pressured and unsupported. "A staff member came in and out every couple of minutes asking me if I had taken the pill yet," she said. "And when I said no and asked for counseling, I was handed a pamphlet of 1-800 numbers and an opportunity to come back later. But I felt the pressure and the clock ticking."

After taking the first abortion pill, Elizabeth immediately regretted her decision. She and her ex-boyfriend Ben frantically searched online for a way to stop the abortion. Then, as she told the crowd, "On page three of Google, at the very bottom, we found an abortion pill reversal hotline." She called, was connected with a doctor, and soon began progesterone treatment. (Image: Pixabay)

The next day, Elizabeth and Ben went to a pregnancy center for a sonogram, uncertain whether their baby had survived. What they found there was not condemnation, but compassion. She said the center "welcomed us, knew us by name, gave us free counseling, which I had so desperately wanted in the beginning from Planned Parenthood, and we got a sonogram where we laid eyes on our daughter for the very first time as excited and expecting parents."

That daughter, Evelyn, is now two years old. Elizabeth told the audience that the little girl who was almost lost has become "the absolute glue that holds our family together." Looking back on the fears and doubts that once drove her toward abortion, she now offers a very different message to women in crisis: "God provides."

Compassion in Action
Ashley Lundberg of Care Net Pregnancy Center of Paradise underscored why testimonies like Elizabeth's matter. She highlighted the work of pregnancy centers across California that provide pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, parenting support, abortion pill reversal, and post-abortion healing. In contrast to the lie that women are alone, Lundberg said these ministries meet families with "compassion, hope, and healing."

A Movement Bigger Than California
The rally concluded with keynote speaker Jennie Bradley Lichter, president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, who reminded Californians that they are part of something far bigger than a single event or even a single state. "You are participating in a world-changing human rights tradition of standing up for the very least among us, the unborn," she said.

A Bold Witness for Life
That truth was visible all across the west steps of the Capitol on March 16. Students, pastors, legislators, pregnancy center leaders, families, and survivors stood shoulder to shoulder to declare that life is sacred, women deserve real support, and California's unborn children are worth defending.

In a state where abortion has been aggressively championed by those in power, the California March for Life remains a bold witness that the pro-life movement is alive, growing, and unwilling to be silent. Last Monday's march made that message clear: life is precious, every child matters, and the church must continue to stand with courage, conviction, and compassion. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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