Nellie Gray, a leader in the pro-life movement, died Monday night. She was 88.
Gray was best-known for her role as founder of March for Life, a pro-life organization that sponsors an annual rally in Washington, D.C. However, she also helped influence a Human Life Amendment to the Constitution and mobilized support for the pro-life movement in the late twentieth century.
Considered by some to be the Martin Luther King Jr. of the pro-life movement, Gray founded March for Life in October 1973 and held the first official march on Jan. 22, 1974 – the anniversary of the controversial Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling. Since then, the annual march has drawn up to 200,000 supporters.
In a statement Tuesday morning, American Values President Gary Bauer called Gray a clear pro-life voice.
“Nellie stood firm and brought hundreds of thousands together for the hope of restored civil rights protections for the unborn and for the protection of women and girls who are also victims of abortion,” Bauer said. “She will be greatly missed, but she set an example for us all to follow of determination and conviction for a pro-life America.”
March for Life has not released a statement regarding Gray’s death.
CT has previously reported on surprising beauty at the March for Life and has extensive coverage of the pro-life movement.
