For the past 40 years, pro-life advocates from all over the country annually march in solidarity to raise awareness for the most vulnerable in society—the unborn. Without fail, the 40th anniversary March for Life brought large crowds to the National Mall today in the hope of securing the right to life for all.

Heritage’s president-elect, Jim DeMint, understands the importance of the right to life and has always been a strong advocate for the pro-life movement.

“Over the past four decades we have seen countless victories upholding respect for human life and dignity,” he says in Heritage’s new video. “Courageous pro-life policymakers and compassionate ministries such as pregnancy care centers together made great strides to protect unborn life. They moved the hearts and minds of an entire generation.”

The rally brought tens of thousands of people—especially many from the millennial generation. From grade schools to universities all over the country, hundreds of students took a stand on this human rights threat. Kristan Hawkins, the executive director of Students for Life in America, was handing out signs to all the youth that stated, “I AM THE PRO-LIFE GENERATION.” Students and young people held those signs proudly as they faced the bitter cold.

What does this mean for the future? As Heritage’s Sarah Torre wrote, “Today, roughly half of Americans now identify themselves as ‘pro-life,’ including many of the millennial generation who will make up the crowds at today’s march. More than 100 pro-life laws have been passed in states across the country since 2010, including parental notification, informed consent, and abortion clinic regulation legislation.”

These strides and the dedication of rising generations point to a hopeful future for America’s most vulnerable.

Alyssa Badolato is currently a member of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. For more information on interning at Heritage, please visit: http://www.heritage.org/about/departments/ylp.cfm.