Thousands of people in Washington, D.C., took part in the annual March for Life, featuring prominent advocates and speakers, on Friday to protest against abortion amid a heavy snowstorm that blanketed the city.

The March for Life is an annual event held to rally anti-abortion activists across the United States since 1974, the year after the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, with participants marching from the National Mall to the Capitol. march towards. . Close to 100,000 people are expected to participate in Friday's march, said Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, which organized the rally and opened the proceedings. (Related: We spoke with Coach Harbaugh at the Pro-Life March. Here's what the national champion had to say)

“I myself am the product of an unplanned pregnancy. In January 1972, just one year before Roe v. Wade, my parents, then still teenagers, made a life choice and I am grateful that they did so.” Thank you very much,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, who spoke at the rally. The march has begun. “America is the only nation in the world founded on a creed…stated with theological clarity in the Declaration of Independence…that all men are not created equal, but created equal. [but] Created Equal. ”

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Johnson's attendees included Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, University of Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh, and former National Football League tight end. Several members of Congress and celebrities attended, including Benjamin Watson. Three-time Grammy nominee Danny Gokey also sang the national anthem at the event.

“[I’m pro-life] For the dignity of life. You know, we all talk about human rights. If you don't have the right to life, then there are no rights that really matter,'' Harbaugh, who led the Wolverines to victory in the 2024 College Football Championship, told the Daily Caller News Foundation backstage. “There is [pro-life players] Also on our team. ”

The march itself began shortly after noon and proceeded through the Capitol toward the U.S. Supreme Court. Conservative and Christian groups, especially Catholic denominations, made up the majority of attendees, but people from a variety of backgrounds told DCNF they came from all over the country to express their opposition to abortion.

“Gay, straight, black, white. Let's unite for our pre-birth rights!” A group of left-wing supporters marching on Constitution Boulevard hold up signs that read “LGBT+ Democratic Pro-Life.” I shouted as I passed by. “Abortion is oppression! Abortion is violence! Abortion is murder!” they continued, while another left-wing demonstrator held up a placard that read “Queer, Latina, Feminist, Rape Victim, Anti-Abortion” was held up.

“About 25% of Democrats are pro-life and support reasonable limits on abortion and regulations on abortion to ensure it's safe for women,” said Kristen, executive director of Democrats for Life.・Mr. Day spoke at DCNF as he marched. . “We think we need to focus on how we provide options for women. How do we make sure she has the support and resources to make choices? California And if you look at states like New Jersey, pregnancy support facilities are closing down.”

Participants in the march to the Supreme Court held several signs and slogans. Many people are holding placards like “I'm a pro-life generation,” “Let's keep our hearts beating,” and “Let's have more babies,” as well as creatives with themes ranging from Dr. Seuss to Winnie the Pooh. Some people held up banners. They made crosses and waved flags with the names of their schools, universities and hometowns written on them.

“There are quite a few colleges in our group that have very active pro-life chapters…We attended quite a few Fridays last semester, and we had so many students come out and support us. It was always great to see them do that,” Victoria Baker said. The Cornell University student and president of an anti-abortion group marched under a banner that read “Ivy League for Life + MIT and Stanford.” Professor Baker said that from his own experience, many Ivy League students express “support for abortion restrictions sometime in the second trimester.” He said he was “actually curious about how many students think there should be some kind of restriction on abortion.”

A large banner running the length of the crowd read, “Republicans, we vote pro-life first.” The sign echoed conservative attendees' claims that some Republican politicians, including former President Donald Trump, are against abortion. criticized Anti-abortion advocacy has contributed to electoral defeats across the United States. (Related: 'Unfit to lead': Pro-life group criticizes President Trump for saying abortion should be left to states)

Tens of thousands of people participate in the March for Life 2024 on the National Mall in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2024. Arjun Singh, Daily Caller News Foundation.

“[W]state, [pro-abortion advocacy] It's funded by George Soros and all of the ACLU and Planned Parenthood organizations that are in these states, and they're misinforming women that if they don't vote for this, they can't get miscarriage treatment. We are spreading the word,” the lawmaker said. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America to DCNF. “That's a lie. We must do everything we can to refute these lies.”

A spokesperson diagnosed the problem as financial. “[W]”As we saw in Virginia, where it was 10 to 1 when it came to abortion advertising on television, we have to do everything we can to raise funds,” she said. .

Among the concerns raised by pro-life Republican elected officials is the weekly limit on abortion bans imposed by states, and President Trump said that a bill enacted in his home state of Florida that would ban abortions after six weeks is They criticized the decision as being “too harsh” and a “terrible mistake.” ” Activists who spoke with DCNF rejected the idea that their advocacy is a Republican political issue, especially in the 2024 presidential election.

Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, told DCNF, “I am a candidate who pledges to support us to at least sign the National Heartbeat Protection Act if it is introduced. I support the people.” It identified efforts to curb chemical abortion drugs as a priority. Several states have enacted laws prohibiting abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, effectively banning abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. 5-6 weeks About pregnancy.

“March for Life” will pass the U.S. Supreme Court on January 19, 2024. From Arjun Singh, Daily Caller News Foundation.

“Our water [is polluted] These chemical abortion drugs are flooding our waterways, chemically contaminating blood placental tissue with known endocrine disruptors, and research published by the NIH shows they harm fish aquatic life and plants. “This has been proven,” Hawkins added, referring to the federal government's push for the use of environmental abortion drugs by anti-environmental abortion groups. Law targeting the sale of chemical abortion drugs.

Upon arriving at the Supreme Court, marchers concluded their demonstration before dispersing in the afternoon. Some receptions were hosted by members of Congress at the Capitol for delegates from each state, while others were spread out among various anti-abortion parties hosted across the city.

“It went very well,” U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Munger said after the march, as DCNF was joined by hundreds of officers from Maryland and Virginia to assist. “This is usually a march that goes on without too much trouble…although there are occasional counter-protesters. [that] Everything seemed fine today. ”

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