LINCOLN — Thousands of Nebraska abortion opponents marched Saturday from the State Capitol to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the annual Walk for Life.

But this year’s gathering struck a more somber tone than last year’s, which celebrated the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Roe v. Wade and sending abortion decisions back to the states.

Gov. Jim Pillen and all five members of Nebraska’s congressional delegation — all Republicans — attended the march, focusing much of their attention on a potential ballot initiative to enshrine abortion in the State Constitution.

“Not all of us agree on everything,” Pillen said. “But we have to be together … to win the ballot … to make sure that we save as many babies growing in mothers’ wombs as possible.”

He said people trying to end abortion need to do a better job connecting with people on a one-to-one level, to change hearts and minds. He said they should talk about their own moms.

Initiative warnings

Sandy Danek with Nebraska Right to Life said many Nebraskans don’t understand how much of the anti-abortion movement’s work the proposed amendment could erase.

She said the amendment would allow abortions up to 22 to 24 weeks gestational age, and it would leave the decision up to individual doctors who might go longer.

Danek told the crowd that the state’s airwaves, phones and news outlets would be inundated with advertising funded by out-of-state interests with deeper pockets than abortion opponents can access.

“We have to form a coalition like we have never done before,” she said.

Why advocates say change is needed

Reproductive rights advocates say the flexibility called for in the proposed constitutional amendment would save women’s lives from potential health complications that don’t easily meet legal exceptions in some states’ abortion bans.

People backing the amendment say it is the best way to fight the continued creep of stricter abortion bans and would tell lawmakers their input on the matter is no longer needed.

No one got louder cheers at the Walk for Life than State Auditor Mike Foley, who has long been a loud voice against abortion. He thanked the crowd for continuing the fight.

U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts spoke, as did all three of Nebraska’s House members — Reps. Mike Flood, Don Bacon and Adrian Smith.

Fischer said that Nebraska remains a “pro-life state” and that the people she hears from most want the state to retain the “culture of life” that values babies more than China or North Korea.

Could Nebraska be first to say no?

Ricketts said all seven states that have tried, since Roe was overturned, to put abortion rights in state constitutions have succeeded, but he said Nebraska could be the first to reject it.

“We must continue to lay the ground for a society in which abortion is not an accepted answer to an unwanted pregnancy…,” he said. “We can say the line is drawn here and no further.”

Ashlei Spivey of Protect Our Rights, the local group pushing for the ballot initiative, said her group wants every Nebraskan to have the “freedom to make their own health care decisions.”

She said those women should be handled with “compassion and privacy without political interference.”

Nebraska Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nebraska Examiner maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Cate Folsom for questions: info@nebraskaexaminer.com. Follow Nebraska Examiner on Facebook and Twitter.