The March, which started in 1974 to mark the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion, was a powerful rebuttal to a statement issued by President Barack Obama in which he claimed abortion is necessary for women to succeed in life.
"And as we remember this historic anniversary, we must also continue our efforts to ensure that our daughters have the same rights, freedoms, and opportunities as our sons to fulfill their dreams,” the president said.
Throngs of young people from all over the country were more than happy to prove him wrong as more than 20,000 gathered at a youth rally in Washington's Verizon Center arena before the March.
"It was cold and wet, but a spiritual high," said Tim Forbes, dean of campus ministry and student life at Father Ryan High School in Nashville, to USA Today.
The rally gave youth a chance to show their enthusiasm for life in general, not just their opposition to abortion.
"This is an issue where they can cheer. They can be teenagers — but they can also be involved in a movement that can make a difference," Forbes said.
At another rally for youth which drew 1,200 attendees, including March for Life founder Nellie Gray, about 15-20 "occupy" protestors situated in threes throughout the auditorium began shouting pro-abortion chants which temporarily drowned out the speaker at the mic.
"Occupy anti-choice” and “pro-life, that’s a lie, you don’t care if women die,” they shouted while event organizers instructed youth not to react but to pray as security was called. During the delay before security arrived, organizers launched the first set of music and the cheers from the massive crowd drowned out the protestors who were eventually escorted out of the building.
Organizer Jim Nolan told LifeSiteNews that the incident was “a good start to go forward” and noted that there were more than 1,000 pro-life young people in attendance and only 20 protestors.
“That’s what it is in the culture and the movements, they are positive signs,” Nolan said. “Get used to it, this country is pro-life.”
Later in the day, marchers gathered on a muddy National Mall where they were encouraged in their fight by pro-life lawmakers.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, told the crowd that he was one of 12 children.
"I'm sure it wasn't easy for our mother to have 12 of us, but I'm glad we're all here," Boehner said. "I've never considered being 'pro-life' a label or a political position. It's just who I am, and who we are as a people."
Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., urged pro-life voters to speak their mind at the polls this November and not to become disunited over the increasingly fractious Republican primary. "We don't have the luxury of disunity or nominee disappointment or apathy," Smith said.
Pro-abortion lobbyists reacted to the event with scorn, with Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, issuing a statement accusing politicians who supported the March of ignoring more pressing issues.
"Anti-choice politicians and their allies promised to focus on creating jobs, yet they are attacking a woman's right to choose at near-record levels," Keenan said.
She's right about the "near record levels". Last year there were more state laws passed that restricted abortion than at any time since Roe was passed in 1973, with 2012 promising even more life-saving legislation.
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