On Wednesday, the St. Paul City Council waded into a national debate over abortion access by approving a resolution on a 7-0 vote to recognize March 10 as Abortion Providers Appreciation Day in St. Paul.

“As the father of 8, and grandfather to 14 beautiful children, I have always known that each life unique and has value and should be protected,” said Senator Dan Hall (R-Burnsville). “I am saddened by the St. Paul City Council’s vote to approve Abortion Providers Appreciation Day and disappoint in their disregard for the value of life. As long as I am at the Capitol, I will continue to protect innocence and advocate for those without a voice.”

Senator Hall joined thousands of Minnesotans joined at the Capitol in February for 2020 March for Life to mourn the injustice of abortion and to call for protection for unborn children and support for their mothers. The annual event marks the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions, which struck down laws protecting unborn children nationwide.

Since the Supreme Court’s rulings, more than 60 million human beings have been legally killed through abortion in the United States, including about 650,000 in Minnesota. While the number of abortions has declined in recent years, 9,910 unborn Minnesota children lost their lives in 2018 alone, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.