Anti-abortion activists to kick off ‘40 Days For Life’ prayer vigil

At least 500 gathered in near freezing temperatures on the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Roe v. Wade for Georgia’s annual March for Life anti-abortion rally. Bob Andres / bandres@ajc.com

At least 500 gathered in near freezing temperatures on the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Roe v. Wade for Georgia’s annual March for Life anti-abortion rally. Bob Andres / bandres@ajc.com

A leading anti-abortion activist will kick off a "40 Days For Life" event in Marietta.

Shawn Carney, creator of the "40 Days For Life" project, will serve as the keynote speaker during a launch event on Tuesday in Marietta.

The 40-day anti-abortion campaign, where volunteers are asked to stand outside the Planned Parenthood in Marietta, will take place from Wednesday through Nov. 3. The organization said hundreds of similar events will be held across the country, including outside the Feminist Women’s Health Center in Atlanta and three other locations in Georgia.

“This is a powerful opportunity to advocate for women by showing they deserve better than abortion and we care and will help,” said Rachel Guy, who is leading the Marietta campaign.

The kickoff event will take place 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marietta in the Marist Hall.

The event comes the day after abortion rights activists argued in federal court that the state's new anti-abortion law should not be allowed to go into effect in January. U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones has not yet issued a ruling.

Gov. Brian Kemp in May signed one of the country's strictest abortion laws, which outlaws the procedure in most cases once a doctor can detect fetal cardiac activity.