BOISE, Idaho — Hundreds of people gathered on the steps of the Idaho State Capitol on Saturday for the annual March for Life, an event opposing abortion and supporting existing restrictions in the state.
WATCH | March for Life event in Boise, Idaho—
Organized by Right to Life of Idaho, the march began at Julia Davis Park and concluded with a rally at the Capitol. Participants included families, church groups, and supporters who traveled from communities across Idaho.
“I came out here today because I believe that life begins at conception and that every life is precious,” said Randy Stewart, a march participant. “We’re talking about equity — everyone deserves an equal chance at life.”
Stewart said he traveled from Twin Falls with more than 50 people from his Catholic church. He described the march as an opportunity for people to publicly express their beliefs.
“It would be really nice to have a conversation and just talk about the issue,” Stewart said. “Of course, it’s very emotional, and it’s very personal.”
The march comes as abortion continues to be a major political issue in Idaho.
Just one week earlier, hundreds also gathered at the Capitol for the Women’s March, where participants advocated for a proposed ballot initiative known as the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act. Supporters of the measure say it would restore access to abortion and reproductive healthcare in Idaho.
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Emily Naugle, president of Right to Life of Idaho, said the ballot initiative was a central focus of Saturday’s March for Life.
“It would allow abortion up to the point of viability, and even beyond that with doctors having the ability to define what viability is,” Naugle said. “That would be a huge change to abortion law in Idaho and would be catastrophic for the loss of life for the unborn.”
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A small number of people were present countering Saturday’s rally. A Boise mother holding a sign that said "Wanted pregnancies need abortion care too," said she attended to advocate for greater medical and reproductive freedom for Idaho women.
Idaho News 6 will continue to follow developments surrounding the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act. The group backing the initiative, Idahoans United for Women and Families, reported last week that it has collected more than 63,000 of the 100,000 signatures required to qualify for the 2026 ballot.
