Tens of thousands of anti-abortion marchers descend on Washington

A half century after Roe v. Wade, March for Life supporters celebrated the US Supreme Court’s dismantling of the constitutional right to abortion and heralded the political struggle set loose by the court’s decision. President Joe Biden has pledged to do everything in his limited power to restore core abortion rights.

The first March for life since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June came with a new focus. Instead of concentrating attention on the court, the marchers vowed to push the action from the building directly across the street: the US Capitol.

Congress, movement leaders say, should be cautioned against pursuing efforts to limit a slew of anti-abortion laws passed last year in dozens of states.

Tens of thousands spread out on the National Mall for speeches, the Capitol Building came into view, and marched.

Indeed, with a constitutional victory and current lawmakers to be convinced, the marchers took a new route west of the Capitol, to their usual destination between the complex and the courthouse.

At a counter protest outside the courthouse, 15 or so activists who support abortion rights held their own signs: “Ban our bodies,” “Mind your own uterus.” They shouted, “Our bodies do not need the counsel of the priests.”

They were easily outnumbered and surrounded by the March for Lifers, but the interaction was civil and the police did not separate the two camps.

The crowd was smaller than in previous years, but had many of the characteristics of previous marches due to the spirit of gathering, many young people from Catholic schools across the country and many banners representing various churches and religious orders.