More than a year after a generational victory for their movement, thousands rallied for the March for Life as snow fell in the nation’s capital Friday, vowing to keep fighting until abortion is eliminated.
Months before a presidential election that could be heavily influenced by abortion politics, pro-life activists packed the National Mall carrying signs with messages such as “Life is precious.” After listening to speeches, the crowd, braving frigid temperatures, planned to march past the U.S. Capitol and the Supreme Court.
“Let’s be encouraged, let’s press on and hope that we can join together and make this great difference,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told the crowd. “We can stand with every woman for every child, and we can truly build a culture that cherishes and protects life.”
Friday’s March for Life is the second such event since the June 2022 Supreme Court ruling that ended the federal protection for abortion rights enshrined in Roe v. Wade. Last year’s march was triumphant, with organizers relishing a state-by-state fight in legislatures around the country.
That fight rages on, with mixed results. The ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization reverted abortion lawmaking back to the states, and 14 states are now enforcing bans on abortion throughout pregnancy. Two more have such bans on hold because of court rulings. And another two have bans that take effect when cardiac activity can be detected, about six weeks into pregnancy - often before women know they’re pregnant.
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