Hundreds of pro-life advocates marched upon the New York State Capitol Monday, calling for an end to abortion.

“It is very important to get the word out for life,” said Deacon Jim O’Rourke, the chaplain for Albany’s chapter of Ancient Order of Hibernians. “We have an awful lot of opposition, especially in this state.”

Only five months ago state lawmakers passed the Reproductive Health Act, which is meant to guarantee a woman's right to choose in New York State, regardless of what changes may come at the federal level.

"That was just an abomination in my opinion,” O’Rourke said.

“I was disappointed but I also felt that God would bring about a greater good from this great evil and we are seeing that across the country right now with many states supporting life and passing laws supporting life,” said Maureen Haege, who traveled from Red Hook for the rally and march.

The protest comes at a time when more than a dozen states, including Alabama and Georgia, have taken measures to restrict or, in some cases, eliminate a woman's right to have an abortion.

“I think it is a reaction to the crazy laws the liberal states are passing like this," Albany resident Paul Nolan said.

“These laws I think are awesome, the 'heartbeat bills' in particular, they send a very, very strong message,” O’Rourke said, referring to laws that ban abortion in cases where a heartbeat can be detected from inside the womb.

As marchers sang the praises of those laws outside, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and pro-choice supporters were decrying them inside the capitol during a late morning press conference.

“Just when you think it couldn’t get any worse, it gets worse,” Cuomo said. “They are coming to roll back Roe v. Wade, I believe that.”

“I think it is scary,” said Robin Chappelle Golston, CEO of Planned Parenthood Acts Empire State. “I think all women are scared and this is a terrible trend that is taking part across the country."

Chappelle Golston says she fears even more states will take pro-life measures now that President Trump has placed two conservative justices on the U.S. Supreme Court since taking office.

“I think this is their whole goal, to pass these laws they know would not hold up in a Supreme Court that was not anti-choice,” Chappelle Golston said.

Already a decades-old fight, it is a debate advocates on both sides expect to intensify in the months ahead.

“Will this end up at the Supreme Court? I hope so because [Roe v. Wade] was a bad decision 50 years ago,” O’Rourke said.

"There is going to be a lot of litigation so we have to continue to support that and fight the good fight,” Chappelle Golston said.