Posted on 1/25/2005, 2:18:18 PM by NYer
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- With a larger turnout that in previous years, at least 250,000 pro-life advocates marched in Washington Monday for the annual March for Life.
Those attending celebrated the pro-life accomplishments over the past year and the energy level was high as speakers talked about the upcoming battles during 2005, including a likely fight over a Supreme Court appointee.
The day began with a mass and a pro-life youth rally at the MCI Center featuring thousands of young Americans from across the nation. From there, pro-life advocates gathered for a rally at the Ellipse and then the traditional march to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Rachel Johnson came from Kentucky because "I love children and I cannot imagine anybody killing a little baby." She said she has a friend who has had an abortion and noted the negative impact it had.
Brandy Gonzalez was one of tens of thousands of young Americans at the march, as is always the case.
"I think abortion is stupid and it should be considered murder," she told the Los Angeles Times. "I'm Daniel Waid and I agree with her message," her friend added, poking fun at political commercials.
Marchers held dozens of different signs with some saying, "Stop Abortion Now, and "A Baby's Heart Starts Beating in 18 Days. Who Are You to Kill It?"
Others held signs focusing on how abortion hurts women, such as "Women Deserve Better Than Abortion."
Marchers heard from a number of pro-life members of Congress who talked about past accomplishments and future plans.
"The end of abortion on demand has started in America. In its place, a spring of life has begun," Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas said.
Rep. Steve King, an Iowa Republican, urged marchers to "never, ever back up," and to keep marching "until we celebrate the end of Roe v. Wade."
Missouri Congressman Todd Akin argued the Declaration of Independence put forward the notion that everyone has a right to life.
"You are fighting for the same basic freedom that our founders fought for: that people have dignity, worth and value," Akin told the huge crowd. "And we believe that, and we will never stop until we put an end to abortion."
Many pro-life advocates say the re-election of President Bush gives them hope that more progress can be made to stop or reduce abortions in the next four years.
Geoffrey Parker of St. Joseph, Indiana, who attended the march, said, "I'm more hopeful than if it had gone the other way."
In a press conference, leaders of the National Right to Life Committee said Bush's victory in November shows the pro-abortion Supreme Court I out of step with the American people. The current court backs abortion by a 6-3 majority and partial-birth abortion by a 5-4 margin.
Discussing chances in Congress of passing new pro-life legislation, "There are grounds for guarded optimism about chances for success in the Senate," NRLC legislative director Douglas Johnson said.
One bill he hopes Congress will begin work on is the Child Custody Protection Act, legislation that would requires states without parental involvement statutes on abortion to honor those of other states.
It would prohibit an adult other than a teenager's parents or legal guardian from taking her across state lines for a secret abortion.
Another priority is the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act, which would require abortion facilities to tell women that an abortion after 20 weeks into the pregnancy will cause severe pain for the unborn child. She would have an option to offer anesthesia to the baby before the procedure.
"We believe we will see action [on the bill] this year," Johnson said.
Terri Schiavo's father Bob Schindler, Sr., spoke at the rally and called Monday's decision by the Supreme Court not to hear an appeal of a case necessary to save Terri's life, "judicial homicide."
Catholic Ping - please freepmail me if you want on/off this list
Do a google search on the march for life, and you will finds lots of media attention, worldwide.
There's one person who knows how to vote.
Yesterday, ABC News headlined this event as "Abortion Rights Objectors", not Pro Life Activists.
There was a christian seminar here in Fresno awhile back that was attended by about 1,000 people. The local fish wrap's article re the event was nothing but quotes from the handful of protestors outside, including the obligatory pic of their picket signs. Not one quote from a peaceful loving attendee.
Where's the media? Quoting Hillary's every word,
of course!
Doesn't it seem a bit strange that while the Senate
Dems are trying to smear Condi Rice, the woman who
aspires to succeed Bush is getting all the glowing
press?
How dumb they think we are. 'Course, there's plenty
of dumb ones out there!
Sorry. This event does not fit the template of the major news media. If they say nothing about it, it did not happen. And if it did not happen, the contrary view, that unlimited abortion is a good thing, prevails.
It's worse than that. MSNBC referred to the March for Life as a protest "commemorating" Roe v. Wade. No, I'm not kidding.
Another broadcast mentioned "hundreds" of people at the march. Not hundreds of thousands. Just hundreds.
Qwinn
Terri Schiavo's father Bob Schindler, Sr., spoke at the rally and called Monday's decision by the Supreme Court not to hear an appeal of a case necessary to save Terri's life, "judicial homicide."
TERRI SCHIAVO PING!
"If our nation be destroyed, it would be from the judiciary." - Thomas Jefferson
It was prominently discussed in my hometown paper (the very liberal Baltimore Sun), along with reference to Pres. Bush's call to them.
The above is the answer to your "where's the media?" question.
Even though there are several prominent politicians within the GOP who can not be described-unfortunately-as pro-life, the reason that this is such a divisive, searing issue within the public consciousness is because of the Democratic Party; it is the national Democrats who refuse to even make the merest acknowledgment of an unborn child's humanity.
The contemptible manner in which the Casey family has been treated by members of their own extended political family is a glaring example of this fact.
It is great to see that after 32 years of killing 45 million babies, the anti-baby murder movement is growing, not diminishing. And the numbers are swelling with young people who will be voting for the next 50 years. Thank God for every courageous one of them. They will turn this country around after the sickening moral slide their morally-tepid grandparents and parents have visited on the nation.
"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
God's words in Rev. 3:15,16.
amazing media bias ping
I went down there at lunch yesterday. Encountered the kids marching from the MCI Center to the Ellipse. It was great to see all the young kids having a blast in the cold! Brought back memories.
That said, I disagree with the crowd assessment in this story. I would say the crowd was large, but not nearly to the size of last year's march. Last year, I couldn't walk along Constitution as both sides were packed with overflow from the Ellipse. This year, there was no one past the American History museum. I think it was because many (myself included) had to choose between the Inauguration and the March as well as groups from New York and New England probably being stuck in the snow. I only saw one group from Mass. this year as opposed to the dozens of groups I saw last year. This crowd was MUCH smaller than last year, probably about 100,000.
On the other hand, I saw NO pro-aborts. Last year there were a couple I witnessed walking around, but I didn't see any this year.
LOL.
US media buried it or tagged it as scarey. (Quick! Women unite! Your rights are eroding...We need Hill as President!)
I didn't see any evidence of that, it was talked about on many of the radio programs that I listened to.
A nice aerial shot of Constitution Ave would confirm or deny that. Wonder where all the aerial shots are?
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