Freezing temperatures and an even colder wind chill did not dampen the spirits of an estimated 100,000 pro-life demonstrators in the 32nd annual March for Life in Washington D.C., Jan. 24. Held just two days following the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, marchers from every state in the nation made the trek up Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court to protest the court decision that has since divided the country and cost an estimated 45 million lives.
Fresh from an intense election year during which their "values votes" prevailed, the crowd was prayerful and optimistic at the noon pre-march rally located at the Ellipse, a grassy area just south of the White House. An address via telephone by the newly inaugurated President George W. Bush buoyed already high spirits.
"What unites us, " said Bush, "is our understanding that the essence of civilization is this: that the strong have a duty to protect the weak. I appreciate so very much your work toward building a culture of life that will protect the most innocent among us - to promote compassion for women and their unborn babies."
In addition to the President, short speeches were made by several Congressman and clergy including: Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and Reps. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.), W. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), Todd Tiahart (R-Kan.), Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), Jim Ryun (R-Kan.), Melissa Hart (R-Pa.), Mike Pence (R-Ind.), Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.), and Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.).
Norma McCorvey - the original "Jane Roe" - who recently filed an affidavit in an effort to have Roe v. Wade overturned, and the family of Terri Schindler-Shiavo also made appearances. The Schindlers are working to block Michael Shiavo, Terri's husband, from removing her feeding tube.
Most Pivotal March in Years
"I can stand here before you today and tell you that the end of abortion on demand has started in America. In its place, a spring of life has begun," said Senator Sam Brownback (R-NJ).
Thanks to a shift in the culture and the goals of the current administration, strides have been made in protecting the sanctity of human life that just a few years ago were thought impossible. Bush pointed out the laws he signed in his first term such as the Unborn Victims of Violence Act and a ban on partial birth abortion. He also mentioned the ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research and pledged to continue to protect the tiniest and most defenseless: the human embryo.
"We're...moving ahead in terms of medicine and research to make sure that the gifts of science are consistent with our highest values of freedom, equality, family and human dignity," Bush said. "We will not sanction the creation of life only to destroy it."
Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), along with Brownback, also promised to reintroduce the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act based on medical research showing an unborn child of 20 weeks can feel pain up to two-four times that of an adult. Smith stated that in light of this knowledge, "Abortion clinics are not only killing centers, but torture chambers as well." The law would require doctors to notify women seeking an abortion of their developing child's capacity for such pain.
But what many pro-lifers would like to see most in the next four years is the complete overturn of Roe v. Wade - and for the first time since 1973, this wish may become a reality. With Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist's illness and several other possible resignations, Bush may have the opportunity to appoint several new judges to the U. S. Supreme Court, tipping the scales in a pro-life direction. Smith urged marchers to "pray and fast that God will inspire politicians of every political stripe, including our pro-life President George Bush, to be tenacious, brave, bold and impatient - yes impatient - in ensuring that no child, no woman, is left behind to be exploited by the abortion industry."
Beyond Politics
As the tens of thousands of marchers poured onto Constitution Avenue holding prayer beads and signs, it was clear marchers would take Smith's urgings to "pray and fast" seriously. For them, the March was more than a political statement - it was a pilgrimage to restore the dignity of human life from conception until natural death.
Representatives from almost every Christian denomination were present and Jewish Rabbis lined the sidewalk showing their support for the sanctity of human life. Various academic institutions were represented, including Christendom College, University of Notre Dame, Ave Maria University and Cornell University. The medical community was not left out either. Doctors and scientists joined the crowd, including medical students from the University of Arizona.
The March included outreaches to hurting women, with 50 members of the national Silent No More Campaign present holding signs that read "I Regret My Abortion" and "Women Deserve Better than Abortion."
A large population of youth and children attended, some from schools and youth groups, while others joined their parents and grandparents for the event. The teen presence was especially notable, with their passionate prayers, loud cheers, and poignant signs. One teen held a sign that said, "45 Million: One Could Have Been Me." Another's read "Aren't You Glad Your Mom is Pro-life?" Few pro-abortion protestors were present, and the police officers on duty appeared alert but relaxed most of the day.
The large yet peaceful nature of the March brought hope to the crowd that a "culture of life" will indeed be possible some day.
"The America of our dreams, where every child is welcomed in life and protected in law, may still be some ways away. But even from the far side of the river...we can see its glimmerings," said Bush.
