FROM SFLA NEWS

In the New Pro-Life Era, Students for Life of America Student Hannah Lape Will Speak for the Preborn at National Pro-Life March  

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Jordan Estabrook - 21 Jan 2025

Hannah Lape will trek from Illinois to Washington, D.C., in a few short days.  

Sure, she’s been working on an impressive degree at Wheaton College, ready to graduate this spring as a political science major with certificates in politics, philosophy, and economics. But to Lape, that’s hardly her most “impressive” and “important” work. To her, it’s her labor for every preborn life, and the speech she’s ready to make at the Pro-Life March is an accumulation of all the hard work to spread the word of Life and recruit others to one of the most important causes of our day: ending human sacrifice through abortion.    

READ: Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk to Address Fifth National Pro-Life Summit; Joins All-Star Line Up

For 22 years, she involved herself to varying degrees with the pro-life movement. Three summers ago, she interned with her local congressman when the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade. While some in the office were distraught, Lape was overjoyed. Still, as she looked at their reactions, she started to realize the connection between politics and the pro-life movement. It wasn’t until last summer that she decided to jump all in.   

“I’ve been pro-life my whole life and loved the Lord my whole life,” said Lape. “But last summer dramatically shifted me. When I was an intern at Susan B. Anthony, that was the experience that took me into the movement and dedicated my work to it. It was a great experience exploring D.C. and policy for Life. With my degree in political science and an emphasis in philosophy, I knew that fighting for the moral rights of preborn children in policy was a true calling for me.”  

After that summer, Lape dove in headfirst. When she returned to Wheaton College, Lape relished the opportunity to become co-president of Wheaton College’s Students for Life of America (SFLA) group, Voice for Life. From there, Lape continued promoting Life on campus, lobbying, and ministry in her area. She even wrote an op-ed in the school’s paper defending her pro-life beliefs, the reason for attending the Pro-Life March, and the choice to make the pro-life issue her singular focus. Overall, her faith in God and personal calling moved her forward.   

“There was pushback on why we’re going to the Pro-Life March as opposed to to other causes such as human trafficking,” explained Lape. “I believe that within the body of Christ, we have unique callings and giftings. As Paul said, hands and feet are in the body; we’re all needed. We need Christians to do different things. As I prayed, he led me towards the pro-life movement while the Lord calls others towards other important causes.”   

As well as advocating for pro-life policies, Lape addressed what the pro-life movement can continue doing to win hearts and minds, one of which is genuine compassion, understanding where people are coming from, and giving them the correct medical information on what abortion does.   

“People are led astray in thinking that abortion is medically necessary and a societal good. Doctors must return to the Hippocratic oath.” Lape continued. “As for the average American citizen who supports abortion, I point out that the abortion industry is fundamentally exploitative. Where are they getting the money, and what does the abortion industry do? I try to humanize a preborn child as they deserve and expose the corruption of sex-selective abortion and the error rate of prenatal diagnosis. Ultimately, so that they can see what the abortion industry is: an industry that manipulates women to choose abortion while leaving them in their grief and lack of support. They don’t see a woman: they see a dollar sign.”  

LEARN MORE: Life Shouldn’t Be Determined by a Faulty Test: Early Prenatal Tests on the Rise to Determine Abortion

Lape hopes that during President Trump’s new administration, the abortion industry will be challenged and exposed even more for its corruption, and it’s up to Republicans in Congress to take the pro-life charge seriously.   

“The new administration will show whether the Republicans will define themselves as cowards or courageous for life, and I hope it’s the latter,” Lape said. “We can’t treat this issue as a transaction. This isn’t a state issue; it’s a federal one. And geography should never determine someone’s right to be born. These next four years, the pro-life movement can influence policy, convince politicians, and make their voices heard to President Trump.”  

As Lape prepares to march and make her speech to thousands, she doesn’t do it alone. She anticipates over 75 Wheaton students walking with her, arm in arm, to the nation’s capital. This new era is ripe with opportunity for the pro-life movement, but only if life-affirming politicians and Americans are willing to cease it.   

As for Lape, Wheaton students, and SFLA, we’re ready to take the reins in 2025 and steer the hearts and minds of Americans away from ever believing abortion is a “right.”   

READ NEXT: Catholic Family Lives Out the Pro-Life Message: Serving Children Through Adoption and Advocacy

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