When I was in high school, I was fairly active with an organization that helped innocent people being tortured, mutilated, abducted, enslaved, and murdered by the Lord’s Resistance Army, a terrorist organization in Africa. One of the campaigns I participated in was a day of silence to stand in solidarity with the victims, raise money, and draw attention to this important issue.

Silence usually has a negative connotation in the context of “social justice” causes. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” However, silence is also a fairly common form of protest.

In a world where people tend to speak more than listen, silence can stick out like a sore thumb.

And that’s what today is all about. Every year on the third Tuesday of October, students participate in National Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity, practicing silence, wearing red armbands, hosting events, and posting online to recognize the approximately 3,000 babies whose voices are silenced through abortion every day in the US.

Those 3,000 voices will never be heard. Those 3,000 children will never have the opportunity to stand up for themselves, speak on their own behalf, and defend their God-given right to life.

We have a moral obligation to use our life, time, resources, and energy to fight injustice. As Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

The persecution, torture, and genocide of innocent people has happened countless times across history. Perhaps the first things that come to mind for you are slavery, the Holocaust, and various other well-known tragedies. People often question how these atrocities were able to occur without more resistance. I’d argue that much of it was due to ignorance and compelled silence.

Fortunately, the Constitution of the United States of America protects citizens against punishment when peaceably standing for what’s right. Silence and apathy in the face of injustice – especially one so severe as abortion – are unacceptable.

So this National Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity, I urge you to use your voice to make a difference. Purposefully withhold your voice or project it loudly. Speak through your actions by wearing a red armband or pro-life gear. Share information on your social media to raise awareness. Have meaningful, open conversations with people on your campus and in your community. Advocate for mothers and their children at local events or protests. Lobby in your local government offices or Capitol. Lovingly reach out to women in crisis outside of abortion clinics. There are endless opportunities to be active in this movement today and every day. You can truly make a real difference.

You’ve been blessed with life.

You’ve been blessed with a voice.

You’ve been blessed with freedom.

Use them wisely.