Told To Mark Calendars for May 7th National Day of Prayer: Legislators Urged to Vote Yes on AB 1628 and AB 2073

SACRAMENTO—Pro-Lifers came from throughout the State to march around the Sacramento Capitol for Monday’s March For Life which featured a Pastor Breakfast hosted by the California Family Council; a Love Life Prayer Walk to Planned Parenthood, Prayer and Worship, a March for Life Rally on the west steps and the actual March for Life around the State Capitol.

Each of the participating Pregnancy Centers were asked to come before the crowd of Pro-Lifers in addition to the info booths that lined the sidewalks with info about conception to birth. 

Post-abortion ministries such as SilentNoMore.com had information as did other ministries such as the nationwide Live Action founded by Lila Rose in 2006.

Stats given at the pro-life rally:

• 1,100 professionals and 332 licensed medical workers along with 4,700 volunteers staff California Pregnancy Centers.
• In 2025 these Pregnancy Centers gave 54,000 free consultations to 40,000 pregnant women and ministered to 3,100 healing after an abortion.
• Pregnancy Centers gave out 329,000 packages of diapers; 207,000 baby outfits and 12,000 containers of baby formula.

Pro-Lifers were taught three simple chants by Sophia Lorey, California Family Council Outreach Director who asked attendees to shout them out so legislators could hear:

• Legislators hear us say: Protect our babies every day.
• Governor Newsom take a stand: Protect the babies of this land.
• We love babies, yes we do: We love babies. How about you?

The lineup of speakers included:

• Sophia Lorey who joined the California Family Council as Outreach Director in 2022.
• Jonathan Keller, President and CEO of the California Family Council and is California’s official “Family Policy Center” which is a nationwide alliance of state-based organizations that include Focus on the Family, Alliance Defending Freedom, Family Research Council and the California Southern Baptist Convention.
• Pastor John Randall of Calvary South Orange County in San Clemente (formerly Calvary Chapel San Juan Capistrano).
• California Assemblywoman Leticia Castillo (R-58) elected in November 2024 and born of immigrant parents from Mexico and who now lives in Home Gardens in Riverside County.
• Shon Thornburg: Southern California Regional Director for Love Life (supporting eight Love Life Chapters in Southern California).
• Charlie Gouailhardou, a 17-year-old Woodcrest Christian High School student (Riverside, CA) student who shares about “almost being aborted”) and now is a pro-life advocate.
• Ashley Lundberg, who works at the CareNet Pregnancy Center of Paradise for the past 15 years and has been Executive Director since 2020, has opened a second clinic in Oroville and is expanding to Gridley, CA.
• Greg Burt, Vice President of the California Family Council, and Sacramento family lobbyist.
• Elizabeth Barrett who became the mother of Evelyn, now 2-years-old, because of the Abortion Pill Reversal, and has welcomed another child, Benson, who is just four months old.
• Jennie Bradley Lichter (keynote speaker) who became President of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund in February, 2025 that annually hosts the national March for Life in Washington, D.C. held around the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and supports the growing State March for Life program. She attended her first National March for Life as a college student in 2001 and now has served as a Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council where she defends the dignity of life.
• Father James Tasy, ordained in May, 2023 and now a parochial vicar (assistant to the pastor) at Good Shepherd Parish in Visalia ended the rally in prayer.

Pro-lifers carried their signs as they marched around the State Capitol.

California’s Safely Surrendered Baby Law allows a parent in crisis to legally and confidentiality surrender a newborn at a hospital or fire station without fear of arrest. AB 1628 and AB 2073 would strengthen these protections.

AB 1628 extends the time frame to 30 days for parents to safely surrender their infant. AB 2073 authorizes baby boxes at safely surrender locations. This is a way for women to safely surrender their infant in times of crisis anonymously.

At the conclusion of the pro-life rally and prior to lobbying visits to State Legislative Offices (1021 O Street) attendees were told to mark their calendars for the Thursday, May 7th National Day of Prayer (which will be observed at the Capitol and in cities across America) as well as for the California Family Council Saturday, Sept. 12 evening gala at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa, 3050 Bristol Street.

The theme for the May 7, 2026 National Day of Prayer is: “Glorify God Among the Nations, Seeking Him in All Generations.” The theme was inspired by a passionate prayer of Thanksgiving, prayed by King David in 1 Chronicles 16:24: “Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples” (NASB) after bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. 

The 2026 National Day of Prayer artwork features an image from the painting “The Prayer at Valley Forge” by Arnold Friberg (see below):