Dreary weather did not stop thousands of Pennsylvanians from coming out for the annual March for Life.

“High spirits, high energy. And we're here to make a statement for pro-life,” said John Guizon, who drove down from Erie. “We woke up at 4am, left at 5am."

Marchers wrapped around the entire state capitol complex at one point, as the start of the walk caught up with the end

“The life of a child is God's greatest gift to mankind. And we need to recognize that and help support the women that are in that situation,” said Michael Williams, another Erieite who drove down on a bus with the group People for Life.

The overflow of pro-life supporters was disruptive for Harrisburg. Several locals shared their opposition to the movement. One coffee shop posted on their door that 10% of the day’s earnings would be donated to Planned Parenthood. The shop shared a statement that “As a queer and woman owned coffee shop, we support body autonomy.”

Democrats continue to push abortion policy as a national issue ahead of the November election. In a recent Quinnipiac poll, 57% of voters said Vice President Kamala Harris would handle abortion issues better, compared to 38% saying Donald Trump would handle the issue better.

"I vote for life first, because if the candidate is not for life, then how much more is that person going to be watching the economy or watching our national security?” said Jeff McGovern, from Erie. "But if the central point in life is life, then everything else falls into place.”

Republican lawmakers maintain that voters will be more concerned about economic issues than a social justice topic that right now is a state’s rights issue.

“I think right now people are more concerned about how they're going to, you know, put food on their tables,” said Rep. Clint Owlett (R-68). “Than entering into a national discussion around abortion.”

Updates to Pennsylvania abortion law are in gridlock with the 2023/24 session's divided legislature.

“It's legal up to 24 weeks, which is six months,” said Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-65), who chairs the Pro-Life Caucus. "So currently Pennsylvania has one of the most liberal abortion laws in the nation.”

"We really want to put pressure on Shapiro and his administration to protect the rights of unborn babies,” said Kim Brandenburg, a marcher from Christ Church Wellsboro.

For Pennsylvania specific law, pro life supporters are looking for an amendment that says abortion is not a constitutional right in the state. Pro-Choice supporters want to remove barriers from getting abortions, like a 24 hour wait period.