Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- With the inauguration of incoming pro-abortion president Barack Obama, some pro-life advocates have been concerned that next year's March for Life will be canceled. However, that's not the case and the organizers of the March are moving full speed ahead with plans for a large event.
The pro-life movement worked overtime to oppose Obama during the presidential campaign and, with his election, pro-life advocates hope a strong March for Life will send the new president a signal that they don't want him promoting unlimited abortions.
This year's March will take place on January 22 -- on what will be the thirty-sixth anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that allowed abortions for any reason throughout pregnancy.
In addition to concerns about the March due to the inaugural, some pro-life advocates have wondered whether the March for Life is taking place because they haven't received significant information about it.
March for Life organizers had computer problems that have limited their ability to get timely information to pro-life groups nationwide as they normally do months in advance.
But Nellie Gray says she is working hard to turn out the largest pro-life contingent possible.
"We are looking forward to having huge crowds in our nation's capitol to give voice to the unborn through two days of pro-life activity immediately following the presidential inauguration," she said in an email LifeNews.com received.
Because of the high demand for hotel rooms in association with the inauguration, Gray urges pro-life advocates to make plans now to obtain hotel accommodations or housing in the area.
With Obama becoming president on a Tuesday, the expectation is that the March will come either one or two days after he signs an executive order rescinding the Mexico City Policy.
That's the Bush administration rule protecting taxpayers from having to fund groups that perform or promote abortions in other nations. The March could be the first chance to respond to the expected Obama decision.
Richard Stith, a Valparaiso University law professor, tells LifeNews.com that every pro-life person who can come to Washington for the March for Life should make plans to attend.
He says the pro-life movement needs to have "the largest March ever, to combat Obama and FOCA."
He also said pro-life advocates shouldn't think the March has been canceled because of the inauguration.
"I'm worried that others, like me, will think that the March has been canceled -- perhaps because of the inauguration taking over Washington," he said.
Although media estimates typically downplay the number of people in the March for Life, the yearly pro-life event continues to attract hundreds of thousands of people.
Related web sites:
March for Life Education and Defense Fund - http://www.marchforlife.org
