FIRST IN THE DAILY SIGNAL: Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis thanked the leaders of the March for Life for their ongoing fight against abortion in a message sent ahead of the 51st March for Life on Thursday.

“Today is the 51st March for Life,” the presidential candidate said in a short video message shared with The Daily Signal. “I want to thank you for standing for the sanctity of life. I’m proud in the state of Florida to have signed legislation protecting babies with a detectable heartbeat. The heartbeat bill was something we worked very hard to achieve, and it is a landmark victory for the sanctity of life.”

“We know that there’s a lot of battles ahead, we know that there’s a lot of naysayers out there, even within the Republican party, but standing for the sanctity of life is the right thing to do, and this is a noble cause,” he emphasized. “Thank you for what you are doing, and God bless you.”

WATCH:

NEW: message from @RonDeSantis to the pro-life Americans joining the March for Life tomorrow: “We know that there’s a lot of battles ahead, we know that there’s a lot of naysayers out there, even within the Republican party, but standing for the sanctity of life is the right… pic.twitter.com/79vYbHa06L

— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) January 19, 2024

DeSantis signed a bill protecting babies with a detectable heartbeat, the Heartbeat Protection Act, in April 2023. He also signed a bill protecting babies after 15 weeks in 2022, effectively banning late-term abortions in the state of Florida.

The 51st annual March for Life will take place on Friday in Washington, D.C. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., will be speaking at the march, in addition to a number of prominent pro-life voices including former NFL tight end Benjamin Watson.

This year’s march has as its theme “with every woman, for every child,” stressing the importance of supporting both mother and child post the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

The Daily Signal also reached out to 2024 presidential candidate Nikki Haley about the pro-life demonstration. In a statement, Haley, formerly the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and governor of South Carolina, expressed gratitude to those who will march on Friday.

“To all those who are marching for life today, thank you,” she said. “Thank you for fighting for those who can’t fight for themselves and thank you for reminding the world that every life is special in the eyes of God.” 

Former President Donald Trump spoke at the March for Life in January 2020, the first president to ever address the pro-life demonstration in person.

“Together, we are the voice for the voiceless,” the former president told the crowds as they chanted, “Four more years! Four more years!”

“You stand for life each and every day,” he continued. “You provide housing, education, jobs, and medical care to the women that you serve.  You find loving families for children in need of a forever home. You host baby showers for expecting moms. You just make it your life’s mission to help spread God’s grace.”

“We cannot know what our citizens yet unborn will achieve, the dreams they will imagine, the masterpieces they will create, the discoveries they will make,” Trump added. “But we know this: Every life brings love into this world. Every child brings joy to a family. Every person is worth protecting. And above all, we know that every human soul is divine, and every human life — born and unborn — is made in the holy image of Almighty God.”

On Thursday, President Joe Biden was questioned by a reporter about the March for Life.

“The March for Life is tomorrow in Washington, D.C.,” asked the reporter. “What’s your message to those attending?”

“March,” Biden responded.

The White House did not return further requests for comment on the topic.

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