Abortion Foes to Renew Efforts

Photos
Thousands Rally at Antiabortion March
Tens of thousands of abortion opponents marched through melting snow in downtown Washington for the annual antiabortion march and rally marking the 34th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. A counterdemonstration also took place, hosted by the National Organization for Women.

The crowd on the Mall cheered when President Bush spoke to the protesters through a loudspeaker from Camp David, thanking those gathered for their help "to build a culture of life." Bush reminded demonstrators about progress his administration has made in the antiabortion movement, including supporting parental notification laws, funding crisis pregnancy centers and signing into law a ban on partial-birth abortions that the Supreme Court is expected to rule on this year.

The rally mirrored similar demonstrations in state capitals and was the culmination of a weekend of events in Washington, including a series of workshops and seminars, a youth rally and Mass that filled Verizon Center and a conference at which antiabortion bloggers discussed potential 2008 presidential candidates.

As the sun set in front of the Supreme Court at the end of the march, a group of women took to the microphone, one after another, holding black signs that said: "I regret my abortion."

Cindy Rose, 49, of Saginaw, Mich., told the lingering demonstrators about abortions she had in 1979 and 1981.

Rose said the guilt over her abortions killed her relationships and pushed her to alcohol and drugs. "One night I asked God to please forgive me," she said. "Abortion is a lie and not a solution."

As the women spoke, some in English and some in Spanish, their words were interrupted by about 100 abortion rights advocates linking arms and holding signs saying: "Trust women."

"Tonight I'm going to speak for my generation," said Susan Scanlan, chairwoman of the National Council of Women's Organizations. "Younger women do not share our memories of women going to grimy apartments. I took such a trip with a college roommate in 1968."

As Scanlon spoke, a chorus of abortion opponents rose in volume chanting Hail Marys.

Staff writer Shailagh Murray contributed to this report.