Months after Value Them Both failed, Kansas March for Life unveils new anti-abortion slogan

Five months after Kansas voters resoundingly rejected the so-called Value Them Both amendment, the state's top anti-abortion lobbying group is taking a different tact with a new slogan — "We will never abandon moms and babies."

Kansans for Life had its annual March and Rally for Life at the Statehouse on Tuesday, with a large gathering of rallygoers that was well attended by Republican politicians. The group unveiled a four-part legislative agenda hours before Gov. Laura Kelly gave her State of the State address.

Anti-abortion counseling centers, also known as "crisis pregnancy centers," would be the beneficiaries of taxpayer funding and income tax credits to incentivize private donations. The group will also pursue so-called "born alive" and "abortion pill reversal" legislation.

These measures were matched by rhetoric — at the march and at morning and afternoon workshops — reflecting a greater emphasis on showing, as KFL spokesperson Danielle Underwood said, "We're not just pro-birth, we are pro-life."

More:If you thought the abortion debate in Kansas ended with August amendment vote, think again

Wichita physician Scott Stringfield said anti-abortion counseling centers are often criticized for "we only care about the baby." He responded by pointing to rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and "there's never a reason to slaughter a baby."

Stringfield is the board chair and medical director for Choices Medical Clinic, a center next to abortion provider Trust Women.

Anti-abortion messaging geared more toward women in 2023

The opening prayer reflected a new tone. Last year, before Value Them Both failed and before Roe v. Wade was overturned, Glenn Faris, of Bethel Baptist Church in Topeka, prayed that "we would do all in the power that you give us to overturn laws that take for granted that life."

This year, Pastor Brad Johnston, of Topeka Reformed Presbyterian Church, prayed "that you would cause this state to be known for high quality health care for women and their children, where the rights of women are respected, both mothers and their girls in the womb, is a place where the overwhelming responsibilities of motherhood might be shouldered by faithful women surrounded by advocates committed to their flourishing in every way."

Despite putting more emphasis on targeting their message toward women, many rallygoers are still ardent abortion opponents. Scattered around the crowd were signs calling to "stop abortion now," as well as a homemade signs calling to "abolish" abortion and pair calling abortion "murder" and "America's Holocaust."

"Let us remember, we the members of the pro-life movement in Kansas have no time to rest," Underwood said. "Regardless of the challenges ahead, in the fight for precious innocent life we have no choice but to redouble our efforts against the radical pro-abortion forces. As we close this year's rally, Kansans for Life reminds every member of the pro-life movement: stay the course, stand firm, let nothing sway us from this sacred mission."

The rally came as anti-abortion groups and politicians look for what comes next after voters overwhelmingly rejected Value Them Both on Aug. 2 in a 59% to 41% vote. The proposed constitutional amendment would have stripped the right to an abortion from the Kansas Constitution after a 2019 Kansas Supreme Court ruling.

The amendment would have granted the Legislature the authority to regulate abortion — and politicians and lobbyists avoided answering how they would use such power.

While Value Them Both would not have banned abortion on its own, attendees of a workshop on lobbying lawmakers expressed an expectation for the Legislature to ban abortion directly or to work toward it through incremental steps.

More:Top Kansas Republicans won't say if they will push model abortion ban if voters amend constitution

Kansas Senate leader wants to see case before Kansas Supreme Court

Speculation about what comes next ranges from efforts to get another abortion case before the Supreme Court, to changing how justices are selected, to defending existing laws, to enacting new restrictions, to a new amendment effort and to beefing up anti-abortion centers.

"It'll be a cold day in you know what before we stop fighting to protect women and children, including unborn children," said Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover.

Masterson urged finding a way to get a case before the Kansas Supreme Court.

"We need them to tell us when does that young woman in utero get her autonomy," he said. "When does that person get their recognition?"

Stringfield urged politicians to "choose principle over pragmatism."

"It's kind of interesting, we're at the 21st anniversary of 9/11," Stringfield said. "And an unobserved aspect of what went on there is that the terrorists — the men who were willing to pay the price of their lives to do such a heinous act when they flew those planes into the Twin Towers and into the Pentagon — you have to look at one thing: They were principled. They were willing to die for what they believed in.

"And some people who think they're pro-life or consider themselves pro-life find themselves sticking a wet finger in the air to sometimes see which way the wind is gonna blow before they make a decision."

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansans for Life hosts first anti-abortion march after Value Them Both