By Nancy Thorner -
On Sunday, January 17, 2021, "Moving the Movement" Midwest Tour, presented by the group weDignify, made a stop at Carmel Catholic High School, Mundelein, IL, Mundelein was the 5th stop along the way. The tour started in Madison, Wisconsin on January 2, 2021, continuing to Des Moines, Iowa on January 9; Omaha, NE on January 10; Fort Wayne, Indiana on January 16; Mundelein, lL on January 17; Indianapolis, Indiana on January 22, ending up in Chicago, IL on January 23, 2021.
The group's mission is to teach students how to "effectively save lives on their campus," while mentoring students into skilled, virtuous pro-life leaders. Those leaders then will build and nurture a culture of life on campus and in their future communities.
As was the nature of the rally in Mundelein, and for all the rallies presented by the Moving the Movement Midwest Tour, the word "march" has been taken out to to be replaced by "Moving the Movement."
To attend, people had to register, not per person, but per car. An estimated 250 cars registered to attend northern suburban Mundelein's We Defend event. Attendees were asked to tune their car radios to FM 88.1 to hear the broadcast of the rally speakers from the comfort of their cars, although those who wished to brave the cold could exit their cars and stand in front of the erected stage to hear the speakers.
Kevin Grillot is Executive Director of weDignify who oversees the March for Life Chicago. Mr. Grillot leads weDignify in transforming college students into skilled, virtuous pro-life leaders.
Partial List of Speakers:
- Pat McCaskey, Chicago Bears co-owner, was MC of the event. Photo #3 of Pat McCaskey speaking on stage
- Archbishop of Orthodox Church: Ecumenical Patriarchate, who urged a Culture of Life in all that we do.
- President of Carmel High School: Bradley Bonham, who served as host for the event.
- Mayor of Mundelein: Steve Lentz, whose faith compels him to stand for life.
- Archbishop of Chicago: Cardinal Cupich, who spoke under the theme, Life Unites.
- Executive Director of We Dignify: Kevin Grillot, who serves college students day in and day out.
- Senior at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Margaret Pluta, who addressed how the extraction of tissue via abortion as being used for research.
- Former Sheriff of Lake County who ran against IL Democrat US Senator Dick Durbin, Mark Curran, who let women know that God loves them and will forgive them if they go to confess and see God for His forgiveness.
