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Hundreds of Thousands Gather for Record-Breaking March for Life
Life News ^ | January 25, 2013 | Steven Ertelt

Posted on 01/25/2013 2:22:43 PM PST by NYer

More than 500,000 people are attending today’s March for Life in a massive attendance that could be well higher than that estimate and set records for the annual pro-life event challenging the mantra of unlimited abortion.

Typically held on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that allowed virtually unlimited abortions at any point in pregnancy for any reason, the march for Life typically sees anywhere from 250,000 to 500,000 people lining the streets towards the Supreme Court building.

The huge crowd is expected to exceed last year’s 400,000 participants as they mark the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that, along with an accompanying ruling in Doe v. Bolton, allowed abortion on demand in all 50 states.

The official theme of this year’s march is “40 = 55M,” an equation meant to remember the enormous toll on human life that has resulted in nearly 56 million people losing their lives.

Sarah Torre of the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society at The Heritage Foundation, talked about the meaning of this year’s March for Life.

“Like many annual March for Life events before it, there will likely also be smaller groups of counter-protests by abortion advocates holding signs and chanting slogans championing the ethic of Roe that pledges unwavering allegiance to a right of abortion-on-demand, for any reason. But those now-tired slogans are no longer able to convince a new generation that denying life to some will lead to a more just society and freedom for others,” she said.

She continued, “It is a simple witness by a tireless pro-life movement over the past 40 years that has reoriented the hearts and minds of an entire generation toward the dignity and worth of every individual—born or yet to be. Despite obstacles, the pro-life movement has achieved notable victories in public opinion, law, and culture.”

Torre said, “Today, roughly half of Americans now identify themselves as “pro-life,” including many of the millennial generation who will make up the crowds at today’s march.”

“As the March for Life draws to a close and Americans look to yet another year under the waning, yet still deadly ethic of Roe, there remains hope that government will one day soon return to a deeper respect of the principles that founded and sustain America by ensuring the basic rights of liberty and life to everyone—including those yet to be born,” she said.

As hundreds of thousands of right-to-life activists march up Capitol Hill today to the U.S. Supreme Court to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, many carry the iconic “STOP ABORTION NOW!” signs distributed by National Right to Life.

“The right-to-life movement remains more committed than ever to protecting unborn children and providing compassionate, life-affirming alternatives to their mothers,” observed National Right to Life President Carol Tobias. “What profoundly scares abortion supporters gives us enormous confidence in the future: young people are more and more pro-life.”

“Our movement is re-energized and renewed every year when we see the March for Life and the rallies and marches held by our state affiliates featuring younger and younger participants,” Tobias added.

Since they first appeared at National Right to Life’s “Rally for Life ’90,” hundreds of thousands of “STOP ABORTION NOW” signs have been distributed and displayed at pro-life rallies across the country. The signs have been part of an exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, she told LifeNews.

In addition to greeting marchers on the National Mall, National Right to Life’s headquarters will play host to the organization, KIDS: Keep Infants with Down Syndrome. KIDS helps raise awareness that, tragically, the number of babies prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted. Dozens of children with Down syndrome and their parents will join Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wa.) in a gathering before heading down to the March for Life.

“Our humanity is not defined by the atrocities that have been committed throughout history, but by the shining light of those who recognize injustice and refuse to be complicit through silence,” Tobias concluded.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abortion; anniversary; dc; life; marchforlife; moralabsolutes; obama; prolife; roevwade
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1 posted on 01/25/2013 2:22:53 PM PST by NYer
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To: netmilsmom; thefrankbaum; Tax-chick; GregB; saradippity; Berlin_Freeper; Litany; SumProVita; ...

Pro-life ping!


2 posted on 01/25/2013 2:23:59 PM PST by NYer ("Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." --Jeremiah 1:5)
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To: NYer

You wouldn’t know it from the local D.C. news. Total media blackout.

All the local networks are leading the news hour with breathless reporting about one inch of snowfall, early release from schools (overworked teachers, just off a 3-day weekend, now heading into 4.5 days off), and the fact that the snow isn’t good for making snowballs or snowmen.

There are some road closures due to the march, but they weren’t mentioned, even during rush hour.


3 posted on 01/25/2013 2:27:54 PM PST by FoxInSocks ("Hope is not a course of action." -- M. O'Neal, USMC)
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To: FoxInSocks

15 people showing up for a gay marriage rally would probably take up half of the news program....


4 posted on 01/25/2013 2:29:42 PM PST by fhayek
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To: NYer

I so admire people who can get out and do this. I just don’t have the fortitude to do what it would take. Out with Kathleen in this weather? No way. And where’s the bathroom, anyway? Frank has to go to the bathroom every half hour.


5 posted on 01/25/2013 2:30:15 PM PST by Tax-chick (Viva Cristo Rey! Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!)
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To: NYer

A non-event because of zero media coverage. There is zero chance of RvW being overturned. The current administration is staunchly pro-death.


6 posted on 01/25/2013 2:32:57 PM PST by karnage
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To: fhayek

“15 people showing up for a gay marriage rally would probably take up half of the news program....”

And if it were 400,000 and growing every year since 40 years ago, with a mojority young people, we’d be plenty nervous- reported on network news or not.

OB can see it, so can Congress, like ruby slippers.

Young people get their news from the iternet anyway.


7 posted on 01/25/2013 2:34:17 PM PST by stanne
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To: NYer

BTTT!


8 posted on 01/25/2013 2:36:28 PM PST by Earthdweller (Harvard won the election again...so what's the problem.......? Embrace a ruler today.)
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To: NYer

The MSM won’t touch this.


9 posted on 01/25/2013 2:36:48 PM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: karnage

You don’t have much faith in those to whom you devote your tagline, I see.


10 posted on 01/25/2013 2:37:01 PM PST by stanne
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To: stanne

?


11 posted on 01/25/2013 2:38:38 PM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: All

Bump!


12 posted on 01/25/2013 2:39:19 PM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: trisham

Meant to say, “oh, ye of little faith”


13 posted on 01/25/2013 2:43:03 PM PST by stanne
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To: FoxInSocks

Ah, there it is, 1 minute 50 seconds of coverage at 5:38. They did talk to one person from each side. Looked like the “pro-choice” side had eight people there.


14 posted on 01/25/2013 2:48:15 PM PST by FoxInSocks ("Hope is not a course of action." -- M. O'Neal, USMC)
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To: FoxInSocks

“Looked like the “pro-choice” side had eight people there.”

Well, I guess they’re relieved they can call it even and go home.


15 posted on 01/25/2013 2:50:26 PM PST by stanne
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To: FoxInSocks
They did talk to one person from each side. Looked like the “pro-choice” side had eight people there.

I remember that from the "Rally for America" in Tulsa. The local news talked to a couple of people from "each side": 5,000 people, give or take, including a flock of elected officials, supporting our military efforts ... and six supporters of "peace." But they're equal to the media.

16 posted on 01/25/2013 2:53:46 PM PST by Tax-chick (Viva Cristo Rey! Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!)
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To: stanne

? I have no tagline.


17 posted on 01/25/2013 2:55:38 PM PST by karnage
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To: FoxInSocks
You wouldn’t know it from the local D.C. news. Total media blackout.

Surprised? If this were a March to Save the Seals, they would be all over it. But human life? No way ... too controversial. That would entail projecting some of these images.


Activists hold signs reading "I regret my abortion" onstage as they participate in the annual March for Life rally in Washington, January 25, 2013.


People participate in the annual March for Life rally on the National Mall in Washington, January 25, 2013.

18 posted on 01/25/2013 2:55:52 PM PST by NYer ("Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." --Jeremiah 1:5)
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To: stanne

I hear you. Thanks.


19 posted on 01/25/2013 3:00:59 PM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: karnage; stanne
? I have no tagline.

**********************

I noticed that. :)

See post #13.

20 posted on 01/25/2013 3:03:26 PM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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