WASHINGTON — Matt Sande traveled to Washington, D.C. from Jefferson, Wis., a city with less than 8,000 people between Milwaukee and Madison. Sande, the legislative director for Pro-Life Wisconsin, came to the nation’s capital with 240 other Wisconsin residents for the annual March for Life, the largest anti-abortion rally in the country.
“This is my second march for life,” he said. “Back in ‘09, I flew in to give a talk.”
The Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to an abortion in 2022, paving the way for states to ban the procedure. According to the Guttmacher Institute, in Wisconsin, abortion is banned at 20 weeks. Sande wants to see a federal abortion ban.
“We're going to have different state legislatures, different Supreme Courts, and that's going to go back and forth, and back and forth, until we solve this with a national solution,” Sande said.
He referenced a bill by Republicans in Congress – the Life at Conception Act – which would grant legal protections to unborn children under the 14th Amendment, effectively banning abortion.
“We always have to march under the banner of a total protection abortion ban, no exceptions, and ultimately declaring the legal personhood of the pre-born child,” Sande said.
Sande said he’s also looking ahead to the spring election in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Supreme Court, which has a liberal majority right now, could flip. Former Attorney General Brad Schimel and Dane County Judge Susan Crawford are running to replace Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who’s not seeking re-election. The justices are considering whether to protect abortion access in the state right now.
“Hopefully, whatever damage the liberal Supreme Court does, we can undo in the coming years,” Sande said after endorsing Schimel.
Sande said it’s up to politicians to protect all citizens, even a baby in the womb. He was happy that Vice President JD Vance addressed the March on Friday.
“It is a blessing to know the truth, and the truth is that unborn life is worthy of protection,” Vance said.
Sande said the work never ends, so they’ll continue to march.
“It is that hope and dream that we can protect pre-born human life,” Sande said.