2024 NWA 8th Annual March for Life

We will meet at the Patriarch House and peacefully walk to the Metroplex Event Center located 2305 S 8th St in Rogers, AR. The rally and Procession of Roses will be held at the Metroplex Event Center. The walk is approximately 2.5 miles. Bus and car service will be available for return. The Rogers Police Department will escort. Limited signs will be available and usually are given out quickly, so plan to arrive early if you'd like a sign! Feel free to bring your own sign. As a reminder, we are a beacon of light and our signs should reflect wholesome, family-friendly images and phrases. 

The rally will have refreshments and feature 

• Mayra Rodriguez, Keynote Speaker and former Planned Parenthood Director
• Ben Rowse, Speaker for Ozark Right to Life
• Update on the Abortion Amendment proposal & Decline to Sign
• Sam Roller and the Holy Rollers, Praise and Worship music

The Procession of Roses is a ceremony we hold every year to remember the lives lost to abortion. Starting with the year 1973, a bell will toll while a volunteer born in the year 1973 will place a single rose in a vase at the front and a slide will show approximately how many lives were lost to abortion in that year. A volunteer will follow suit for every year through 2024. This ceremony is powerful, moving, and a beautiful remeberence for the children lost to abortion. The Procession lasts about 20 minutes, leaving 51 people standing, each representing over 900,000 lives lost to abortion on the year of their birth. To sign up as a volunteer to represent the lives lost to abortion on the year you were born, please go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044EA5AF22A6FC1-49364258-procession#/

FAQs

What time does it start?   Where?

A brief welcome and introduction will begin promptly at 2:00.   We begin in front of the Patriarch House, 1230 West Poplar, Rogers (next to Planned Parenthood) and will proceed on a peaceful and joyful walk to the Rogers Metroplex Event Center, 2305 S. 8th St., Rogers

What’s the route – and how long?

Approx 2.5 miles – a bit longer than last year and a bit shorter than walks in Fayetteville.   East on Poplar to 8th St.    South on 8th St to Metroplex Event Center.   Police Escort WITH the flow of traffic on the West side of 8th St.   Police will provide outside lane for us to walk and will hold traffic lights.

Led by David Dodson, we also have a team of Security men to keep the crowd together.

Where do I park?

-ACROSS from Friendly Bookstore, 1114 W. Poplar.  Large empty lot.  Take 8th Street (71, College Ave) to Poplar.  West on Poplar.    Parking lot on North (right) side of Poplar. 

-St. Vincent de Paul church lot, corner lot of Poplar and 13th.   Due to construction and tornado damage, take Dixieland to Poplar.  East on Poplar.   Once parked, you will need to walk around construction at Poplar & 13th to get to Patriarch House.  

Can I park along the way?

For those who are unable to make the entire walk, both Southgate Plaza (S of Olrich & 8th ) and Sunbelt Rental (S of New Hope and 8th) have given us permission to park and then join the crowd as they come by.

Is water available?  What about bathrooms?

Yes, we will have “Hydration Stations” at both Southgate Plaza and Sunbelt rentals.

There is limited bathroom availability at the Patriarch House.   We also walk by various fast-food chains and stores where there are public bathrooms.   Once arrived at the Rogers Metroplex Center, there are many bathrooms.

Are there signs available?   Can we bring our own signs?

Yes – we do have a limited number of signs but feel free to make your own signs.   Banners from schools and churches are also welcome.  The NWA March for Life is to celebrate Life.   We respectfully ask that walkers NOT bring any graphic pictures.

What if there are pro-abortion people there?

It’s very simple: We see them, pray for them and ignore them. We are grateful that Rogers Police Department will also be present.

How do I get back to starting point?

We have LIMITED bus/car service available to bring people back to starting point.  OR  some families have brought two cars – one is driven and parked at the  Metroplex center.   Family rides in the other car to starting point. OR as in the MFL in Little Rock or Washington D.C. – people walk back!

What’s at the Rally?

We are thrilled to have former Planned Parenthood Director and Whistleblower Mayra Rodriguez giving our keynote address.   Ben Rowse will give a short update on the status of the AR abortion Amendment proposal and efforts of “Decline to Sign.”  The rally will close with the somber yet beautiful Rose Procession.

Is there a cost?

The event is FREE but we will be asking for donations.   NWA Respect Life is a 501(c)3 organization and we ask that you be generous to help us cover the costs of the March as well and continue our pro-life work here in NWA.

What’s the schedule?

It’s hard to be exact as so much depends on the number of people who attend and how long it takes folks to walk the route.    The following is our goal:

2:00 PM March for Life, Begins at Patriarch House, 1230 West Poplar, Rogers

3:00 PM Music provided by Sam Roller and the Holy Rollers

Refreshments

Welcome, Sheila Pursell, NWA Respect Life Director

3:20 Ben Rowse, Ozark Right to Life, President.  Update on Proposed AR Abortion  Amendment

3:30 PM  Mayra's Presentation- Personal Testimony & importance of Pro-lifers' prayers at Planned Parenthood

4:00 PM  Procession of Roses

4:20 PM - Final Remarks and Closing