Arkansas anti-abortion march postponed over virus and unrest

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An anti-abortion group’s annual march in downtown Little Rock has been postponed over concerns about the coronavirus and potential unrest outside the Arkansas Capitol.

Arkansas Right to Life on Tuesday announced it would not hold its annual March for Life, which was originally planned for Sunday. The event is held every year to mark the U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide.

“This decision has been made in the interest of safety for the thousands of individuals, including elderly and disabled, and families with children who travel from all parts of the state to attend our annual march,” Rose Mimms, the group’s executive director, said in a statement.

The decision was announced days after the FBI warned of plans for armed rallies at all 50 state capitols and the U.S. Capitol in the days leading up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Monday said he had directed additional state police to the Capitol but has not activated the Arkansas National Guard in response.