By Kansans for Life
Our Wichita banquet featuring former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany was a huge success!
We had so much fun celebrating the 40th anniversary with a sold out crowd and three recent stunning wins at the state legislature: successful veto overrides of the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, Abortion Pill Reversal Informed Consent requirements, and the creation of the $2 million Alternatives to Abortion Fund.
Clockwise, from upper left: Heroes of the pro-life movement honored on stage, Kayleigh McEnany addresses a sold out crowd, State Representative Patrick Penn serving as Master of Ceremonies, banquet attendee enjoying evening, Peter Northcott addresses crowd
Both the Wichita and Overland Park KFL banquets highlighted local founding members who laid the groundwork during KFL’s foundational years and recognized the countless unsung heroes of the pro-life movement over the past four decades. Young pro-life leaders joined the historic leaders onstage to showcase the strength and continuity of the movement — past, present and future.
“Heroes have and will always come forward when we’ve needed them,” said KFL Executive Director Peter Northcott. “And our movement never quits.”
Heroic first-time state legislator, Rep. Dr. Ron Bryce, spoke to the crowd about this year’s successful effort to enact the “Born Alive Infants Protection Act, which ultimately required a supermajority vote to override Gov. Laura Kelly’s heartless veto. Rep. Bryce gave a first-hand account of being called to a “Code Blue” to attend to a newborn baby boy who initially survived an abortion attempt. The same story provided a galvanizing moment in the legislature, which drew unprecedented support from members of both parties.
Speaking about his inspiration for carrying the bill, Rep. Bryce said, “I’m hoping that somehow in heaven he can see that his life had meaning for helping pass this legislation this year.”
“We are in a battle, one that is not just political, but also spiritual. It’s a fight for the hearts and minds of people,” Rep. Bryce later added.
In her address, McEnany praised the work and strategic vision of KFL saying, “I speak to pro-life groups all across the country, and I think, Peter (Northcott, KFL executive director), you just gave the single best presentation I’ve seen as to how we move forward as the pro-life movement in the political space…I’m blown away.”
McEnany concluded by congratulating KFL and its supporters on recent legislative successes: “All of the laws that have been overridden is because of organizations like KFL…so thank you for all that you do.”
We owe a heartfelt “thank you” to the volunteers who devoted their time and talents to help make the events successful, and the supporters who attended as we work together to blaze a new path forward in our state.