Life Chain Salem Area
LIFE CHAIN is a peaceful, prayerful public witness of pro-life individuals standing in remembrance of at least 65 million lives lost to abortion, praying for our nation, for people in crisis situations and for a permanent end to abortion. It is a visual statement of solidarity by the Christian community that abortion kills children, hurts women and men, and that the Church supports the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception to natural death.
WHO WE ARE?
Life Chain is a peaceful, prayerful stand against abortion. We use our signs to speak the truth about abortion. According to the Oregon Health Authority, over 1,000 preborn babies died in 2025 who were living in Marion and Polk Counties. Over 10,000 preborn babies died in the state of Oregon in 2025. Many different people of all ages, groups, church communities, youth, and community members join us to make a human chain on the first Sunday of October every year. Please join us!
WHAT IS THE PLAN?
Every first Sunday of October, rain or shine, we meet to make a human chain for one hour, peacefully holding approved signs that tell the truth about abortion.
We meet at the approved Life Chain Salem Area locations:
- Lancaster Drive, Salem (Pick up Signs at People’s Church, Saint Germaine’s Pregnancy Resource Center at 3855 Wolverine St., or State Street and Lancaster Drive)
- Monmouth St., Independence (Pick up signs at 1475 Monmouth Street)
- First St., Stayton (Pick up signs at Calvary Lutheran Church 198 Fern Ridge Rd SE.)
Please choose the site that is most convenient to you.
As you stand for the unborn, please space yourselves 20-25 feet apart and face the oncoming traffic with your Life Chain sign.
LIFE CHAIN SIGNS
Please only use approved Life Chain signs. You can pick up your signs before the chain, and return them after. Approved Life Chain signs are available in Spanish and English. They include the following messages:
- Abortion Hurts Women
- Abortion Kills Children
- Pregnant? Need Help? 800-712-HELP
- Life, the First Inalienable Right
- Adoption is a Loving Option
- Pray to Change Hearts
- Jesus Forgives and Heals
CODE OF CONDUCT
- Be humble but be bold as you stand today against the greatest injustice our nation has ever faced.
- In the spirit of Christian love, commit to being peaceful, prayerful, and polite, in word and deed. Any misconduct from passersby should be met with silence, which will convey your inner peace.
- Do not respond to motorists. Please stay silent and prayerful and your response to any situation will be proper. Do not wave or gesture. Do not frown or smile in response to motorists. Our mission is to pray and stand against abortion—with the solemnity our mission deserves.
- Help others. Watch for mothers (and dads) who need help with children, and assist the elderly with chairs and other needs.
- Pick up any trash near you before leaving your area.
- Drive carefully, and park legally. Buddy-up, if possible, to minimize
traffic woes. Use crosswalks, and do not hold up traffic. Watch your small children at all times. During the Chain, stand back from the street and do not extend your sign over the curb. Give immediate passage to other
pedestrians. Only small children should eat during the LIFE CHAIN. - Thank you for being a strong public witness for Christ and for being an exemplary citizen in our local area.
You can find a printable version of the Life Chain Code of Conduct Here.
WHO CAN COME?
All are welcome to attend the LIFE CHAIN! Bring your whole family, church community, youth group, etc. All denominations are welcome.
Some individuals bring chairs, while others stand. Still others kneel in prayer.
Please be aware that sometimes individuals with opposing views can make obscene gestures or comments. Meet them with silence, and prayer. You may want to discuss this with young children so they are prepared beforehand.
MORE INFORMATION
Please check out the following links for additional information and documents to help, your congregation, parish, or family prepare for the LIFE CHAIN.
2026 Life Chain 1/2 Page Flyer
7 Reasons Christians Should Attend Life Chain
JOIN US FOR THE LIFE CHAIN EVERY FIRST SUNDAY IN OCTOBER from 2:30-3:30 pm!
THE LIFE CHAIN MOVEMENT
38+ Years and CountingA Brief LIFE CHAIN History
The first LIFE CHAIN, born through prayer, was built in 1987 by Please Let Me Live, Inc., a small but aggressive pro-life ministry in Yuba City, CA. Half of the churches of Yuba and Sutter Counties occupied Marysville, with 2,500 Christian soldiers holding “Abortion Kills Children” signs on both sides of the street.
The LIFE CHAIN elevated the Life ministry to high respectability in Yuba-Sutter by helping to unite churches and to inform the local press, law enforcement, public officials, and the area citizenry about the unconscionable killing of pre-born children. Today, after several local LIFE CHAINS, timely picketing, and the comprehensive distribution of pro-life literature, only an occasional (and questionable) therapeutic abortion is performed in Yuba-Sutter.
In September 1989, 101 churches in Bakersfield, CA, built the second LIFE CHAIN with 7,500 participants. Soon other California cities followed.
By February 1991, about 170 chains had been built nationwide in more than 40 states and in other nations. Hundreds of thousands of Americans participated in chains, and millions of motorists observed them.
We thank our Savior for His glorious, all-powerful Church and for its response to the Life Chain ministry.
For more information on the history of life chain, visit the Please Let Me Life website.
frequently asked questions
When is the Life Chain?
Life Chain happens every year on the first Sunday of October from 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm, rain or shine!
Can I come by myself?
While we encourage you to buddy up for safety, you can come alone.
Can I bring my own sign?
Please only use approved Life Chain signs. You can borrow one from the coordinators before the event, or purchase your own.
Do we need to sign up?
You do not need to sign up, you can just arrive and begin praying to end abortion. Some churches or groups may have their own sign up.
What if I don't have a sign?
You can pick up a sign at one of the pre-determined locations before the Life Chain, and return it when you are done.
- Lancaster Drive, Salem (Pick up Signs at People’s Church, Saint Germaine’s Pregnancy Resource Center at 3855 Wolverine St., or State Street and Lancaster Drive)
- Monmouth St., Independence (Pick up signs at 1475 Monmouth Street)
- First St., Stayton (Pick up signs at Calvary Lutheran Church 198 Fern Ridge Rd SE.)
I'm worried about my safety at the Life Chain.
It can be scary to stand up for life against the culture of death in our area. We encourage you to come with a buddy for safety, or attend with your church group or family. During the event, do not engage with counter-protestors. Instead, pray for them quietly. And remember, God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love. (2 Timonth 1:7)
Can children come?
Absolutely! Life Chain is for everyone who wants to participate in the peaceful and prayerful demonstration to end abortion.
Be advised that some people who disagree with Life Chain’s values and mission may say rude things or demonstrate obscene gestures. Parents know what is best for their children, and what they are comfortable with.