March for Life (Washington, DC)

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Beginning of March for Life 2009

The March for Life is ( "March for Life") one since 1974 annual demonstration of the pro-life movement in Washington, DC occasion of the anniversary of the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in the case v Roe. Wade of January 22, 1973, which led to the legalization of abortions in the United States . The goal of the march is to override this fundamental decision. The organizer is the March for Life Education and Defense Fund .

The number of participants has usually been 250,000 since 2003, in 2011 and 2012 it was estimated to be around 400,000, and in 2013 around 650,000. According to the Washington Post , it is the world's largest anti-abortion event.

history

The first March of Life was initiated by life protection activist Nellie Gray on January 22, 1974 on the west side of the Capitol , exactly one year after the Row v. Calf. It is estimated that around 20,000 participants took part. Until her death in 2012, Gray was primarily responsible for organizing the march.

“This is the land of the free, the place to come for advancement […] How is it that a country built on this would kill babies?

I don't understand slavery. I don't understand the Holocaust. I don't understand abortion. "

“This is the land of the free, the place to find advancement. [...] How is it that a country built on it wants to kill babies?

I don't understand slavery. I don't understand the Holocaust. I don't understand abortion. "

- Nellie Gray : The Washington Post , 1993

The nomination of Samuel Alito as federal judge at the Supreme Court created a positive mood during the 33rd March 2006 and aroused the expectation that he could “win the approval of the Senate and support a majority for the repeal of Roe v. Connect the calf "

At the time of March 35, 2008, a study by the Guttmacher Institute was published, according to which the number of abortions in the United States had fallen to 1.2 million in 2005, the lowest value since 1976. Although this can be considered a success, emphasized Participants said the decline was not strong enough and that the march could not come to an end until abortion is prohibited by law.

Posters against the Freedom of Choice Act (2009)

During March for Life 2009, the main theme was the impending passage of the Freedom of Choice Act by the 111th United States Congress . The bill would many applicable for abortion restrictions such as parental notification for minors and by the finding of a fundamental right to abortion and the abolition Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act , the jurisdiction of Roe v. Establish Wade in law.

The 38th march has been rescheduled from the usual January 22nd to January 24th, 2011 because the United States Congress does not meet over the weekend. The 40th march was postponed to January 25, 2013 due to the inauguration of Barack Obama .

procedure

Protesters in front of the Supreme Court (2010)

The event begins around noon and typically consists of a rally on the National Mall near Fourth Street , a train through Constitution Avenue and First Street, and ends with another rally on the stairs in front of the Supreme Court.

On this day, many participants campaigned for their congressmen for the protection of life and sent them roses.

Attendees

Participant in March for Life 2009
Students take part in the March for Life 2013

Many participants are young people and students who often come to the March for Life with whole youth groups. Washington Post columnist Robert McCartney estimated that half of the March for Life 2010 participants were under 30 years of age.

According to the Washington Post, most of the participants are members of the Roman Catholic Church and many are members of youth groups in Catholic schools and universities.

Around 20,000 participants attended the first march on January 23, 1974. In 1987, around 5000 people took part in the 14th March despite a snow storm.

Between 2003 and 2009, around 250,000 participants took part in the March for Life every year. In the years that followed, the number rose: in 2011 it was up to 400,000, in 2013 it was estimated that around 650,000 participants.

Slogans

Over the years the participants have announced various slogans on signs: We Choose Life , End Abortion Now , Your Mom Chose Life (“Your mother chose life decided "), Give Life, Don't Take It (" Give life, don't take it "), Stop Abortion Now (" Stop abortion now "), Defend Life (" Defend life "), Women Deserve Better Than Abortion ( Women Deserve Better Than Abortion, Michigan Loves Our Pro-Life President , Respect Life, Diocese of Pittsburgh , Abortion Kills ("Abortion Kills"), Stop Unborn Child Abuse , and Equal Rights for Unborn Women . There are often chants like pro-choice, that's a lie, babies never choose to die! ("For choice, that's a lie. Babies never choose to die!") To hear.

Known speakers

Among the speakers at the rally in front of the Capitol were personalities such as President George W. Bush , Alveda King (niece of Martin Luther King Jr. ) and the parents of Terri Schiavo . Several congressmen usually appear.

During his tenure as President, George W. Bush did not attend the event in person from 2000 to 2006, but spoke to attendees remotely. In 2004 he thanked the participants from Roswell, New Mexico for their dedication to a noble cause (" devotion to such a noble cause "). In his speeches he tended to speak out against abortion in general, but showed no concrete efforts to overturn the Roe v. Calf .

His predecessor Ronald Reagan also addressed the participants by telephone. During the 14th march 1987, he promised to help them to quit national tragedy ( " end this national tragedy "). During the same event also spoke Jesse Helms , then a senator for North Carolina , and described abortion as American Holocaust ( " American holocaust ").

On 30 March 2003 were among the speakers of the Republican MPs Chris Smith from New Jersey and Randall Terry , founder of Operation Rescue . In his speech, Terry invited the young participants: " fight for all you're worth " ( Fight, which are of more value her for everything ).

On March 31, 2004, 15 Republican MPs, many of whom spoke on the importance of supporting and electing candidates who oppose abortion in relation to the 2004 election in the United States . Congressman Todd Tiahrt of Kansas called on the participants to "help pro-lifers in your state" ( "help the life guards in your State" ). Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania recommended choosing pro-life candidates to win the Senate and then win the courts.

Congressman Steve Chabot of Ohio , a prominent pro-life representatives in the United States House of Representatives , told the 33rd March 2005, killing "46 million babies" was for him a "sufficient justification for overruling of this terrible case '( "Sufficient justification for overruling that awful case"). The march's initiator, Nellie Gray, predicted that there would be similar trials to the Nuremberg trials against feminist abortion advocates in the United States .

The 36th March 2009, around 20 members of Congress talked about the "challenges facing lifers under the Obama administration face" ( "challenges pro-life advocates face under the Obama administration" ), including Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin , former chairman of the United States House Committee on the Judiciary . President Barack Obama was also invited to speak by Nellie Gray, but did not attend. Instead, he supported abortion rights in a publication, saying that abortion embodied a comprehensive tenet: "Government should not intrude on our most private family matters" . In 2014 he emphasized this view that every woman has the right to decide for herself about her body and her health.

At the 38th March 2011 speakers included House Majority Leader Eric Cantor , House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, and other Congressmen.

Speaking on the 40th March 2013, among others, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives John Boehner via video message, the former Senator and candidate for the 2012 presidential election Rick Santorum and other members of Congress.

At the 41st March 2014, Evangelical James Dobson spoke with his adopted son about adoption . Pope Francis sent a greeting to the demonstrators on Twitter : “I join the March for Life in Washington with my prayers. May God help us to respect every life, especially the most vulnerable. "

Media coverage

According to the initiator, Gray, the usual reporting consists of an “article with a tiny little comment by a single march participant”. In 2013, the conservative Fox News Channel lamented the negative connotations of life advocates as “anti-abortionists” or “anti-abortion activists” in the media and the five years of pending coverage in the print edition of the New York Times . The 36th March 2009 received little media coverage, although it took place just two days after Barack Obama's inauguration, when many journalists were in town.

To counteract the low level of coverage, the Family Research Council , one of the supporters of the march, organized the Blogs for Life conference for pro-life bloggers, where strategies such as increasing media attention and communicating the desired goal can be used , was spoken.

Events around the march

Various life rights organizations have their own events before and after the march. These include a Luau for Life at Georgetown University or a vigil in front of the Supreme Court or an evening party organized by the March for Life Education and Defense Fund .

Orthodox churches

Orthodox clergy and lay people at the March for Life 2012.

Many representatives of the Orthodox Churches take part in the march, as well as clergymen, seminarians and families from all over the country. The evening before, a vespers service is often offered in a church. During the march, a panakhida is celebrated for the unborn children.

In recent years, Jonah Paffhausen , Metropolitan Washington of the Orthodox Church in America , has spoken at calls before the march. The Carpatho-Russian Church in America and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America are also closely associated with the march and the protection of life movement. Nicholas Smisko was always present during his tenure as Metropolitan of the Carpatho-Russian Church since 1987.

Roman Catholic Church

Verizon Center Youth Event (2006)

Various Holy Masses are celebrated before the march, including in the National Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception . At the Verizon Center , the Archdiocese of Washington is hosting a Holy Mass meeting, attended by around 20,000 young people and a speech by the Pope is played.

The Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pietro Sambri received a communication from Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 . in which he showed his deep gratitude for the "extraordinary annual witness to the gospel of life". In 2008, the Pope thanked the participants in his message for their commitment to “respect for the dignity and inalienable rights of every human being”. In 2011, in addition to the Verizon Center, another youth event took place at the DC Armory ; Over 27,000 young people took part in both events.

Due to the increasing number of foreign pilgrims arriving for the March for Life, the Diocese of Arlington has been offering an evening of prayer the previous night under the motto Life is VERY Good since 2009 . In 2013 there was also an early mass and a meeting at the Patriot Center on the George Mason University campus before the march , attended by Bishop of Arlington Paul Loverde and 100 other bishops and priests from around the country. In 2013, over 12,000 people took part in the events before and after the march.

Students for Life

Students for Life of America , the largest college life protection group, holds a conference each year during the week of March for Life , usually on the Saturday after January 22nd. According to the company, the number of participants rose from 400 in 2007 to 1800 in 2011.

Virtual March for Life

Since 2010, Americans United for Life has been offering a virtual rally for supporters who cannot take part in the March for Life , where avatars can take part in a virtual demonstration on the Washington Mall via Google Maps . Around 75,000 participants took up this offer.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Michael Janofsky: Words of support from Bush at anti-abortion rally. In: The New York Times . January 23, 2004, accessed December 9, 2014 .
  2. ↑ a b c d Jennifer Harper: Pro-life marchers lose attention . The Washington Times . January 22, 2009. Retrieved January 27, 2011: "[T] he event has consistently drawn about 250,000 participants since 2003."
  3. ^ A b Youth Turnout Strong at US March for Life . In: Catholic.net . Zenit.org . January 25, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  4. ↑ a b Danielle Portteus: Newport: 650,000 In March For Life . In: MonroeNews . MonroeNews. February 10, 2013. Archived from the original on February 13, 2014. Retrieved on April 14, 2014.
  5. ↑ a b c d Michelle Boorstein, Carol Morello: Thousands of abortion foes brave cold to join March for Life in Washington. In: Washington Post. January 22, 2014, accessed December 10, 2014 .
  6. ^ A b Emily Langer: Nellie Gray, March for Life founder, dead at 88. In: Washington Post . August 12, 2012, accessed December 9, 2014 .
  7. ↑ a b https://web.archive.org/web/20080509191120/http://www.marchforlife.org/content/view/13/26/
  8. ↑ a b Michael Janofsky: Abortion Opponents Rally, saying the End of Roe is Near. In: The New York Times . January 23, 2006, accessed November 9, 2009 .
  9. ^ A b c d Sue Anne Pressley Montes: A Youthful Throng Marches Against Abortion. In: The Washington Post, Section A03. January 23, 2008, accessed November 9, 2009 .
  10. ↑ a b c d e f Michael Drost: Pro-life activists march on court; Call on Obama to 'save lives' by opposing pro-choice bills. In: The Washington Times, DC Area Section, A18. January 23, 2009, accessed November 9, 2009 .
  11. ↑ a b c d Robin Toner: Rally Against Abortion Hears Pledge of Support by Reagan. In: The New York Times. January 23, 1987, accessed November 22, 2009 .
  12. ^ Robert McCartney: Young activists adding fuel to antiabortion side. In: Washington Post. January 23, 2010, accessed December 12, 2014 .
  13. ↑ About Us ( Memento from May 9, 2008 in the Internet Archive ). March for Life website. Retrieved January 27, 2011
  14. ↑ a b 300,000 March for Life in US Capital: Another 75,000 Participate Online . In: ZENIT news agency . Innovative Media, Inc. January 22, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  15. ↑ a b c Robin Toner: At a Distance, Bush Joins Abortion Protest. In: The New York Times. January 3, 2003, accessed November 22, 2009 .
  16. ^ Sara Rimer: Abortion Foes Rally in Joy Over GOP Surge. In: The New York Times. January 24, 1995, accessed November 22, 2009 .
  17. ^ A b Demonstration in Washington: Thousands march "for life". In: taz.de. January 23, 2014, accessed December 10, 2014 .
  18. ↑ Activists at March for Life Rally Demand Tougher Abortion Laws, Overturn of Roe v. Calf. Retrieved December 19, 2014 .
  19. ^ March for Life Rally . In: C-SPAN Video Library . C-SPAN. January 25, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  20. ↑ Dan Galnor: March for Life shows media march in lockstep with pro-abortion groups. In: Fox News Channel . January 25, 2013, accessed December 10, 2014 .
  21. ↑ JOIN US ON THE BUS: St. Ambrose Society sponsors participation in March for Life, Washington DC St. Vladimir Orthodox Theological Seminary. , January 22, 2014, accessed on January 22, 2014 .
  22. ↑ Archbishop Wuerl's Homily at Jan. 22 pro-life Mass. Archdiocese of Washington January 22, 2007, archived from the original February 8, 2007 ; accessed on January 23, 2007 (English).
  23. ↑ Abortion protesters see hope in GOP gains. In: Washington Post. January 24, 2011, accessed December 10, 2014 .
  24. ↑ LIFE IS VERY GOOD - EVENING OF PRAYER AND MORNING RALLY. Diocese of Arlington, archived from the original January 24, 2013 ; accessed on December 10, 2014 .
  25. ^ Katie Collins: Culture of life starts with prayer. In: Catholic Herald. December 19, 2012, archived from the original on December 10, 2014 ; accessed on December 10, 2014 .
  26. ↑ Life is very good. In: The Anchor. February 8, 2013, accessed December 10, 2014 .
  27. ^ William Wan: Thousands march in DC demonstration against abortion. In: Washington Post. January 23, 2010, accessed December 10, 2014 .

Web links

Commons : March for Life in Washington, DC  - Collection of pictures, videos, and audio files