Hundreds of Iowans are in Washington, D.C. today (Monday) to participate in the “March for Life”in protest of the 32-year-old United States Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion. The president of the group Iowans For L.I.F.E., Ann McAlister, says she feels the movement against abortion is growing. She says this will be her fifth year and she says she’s seen a steady increase in numbers, and she fully expects to see a half-a-million people participate. McAlister says the increase in people participating in the march is an indication in the change of attitudes. She says what she’s seeing right now is, “the more educated the public becomes, the more pro-life they’re becoming.” McAlister says another event that occured in Washington Thursday — the inauguration of President Bush for a second term — is another hopeful sign. She says, “You know, everybody has their opinion on how President Bush was re-elected, but, the one I like is that the pro-lifers and active Catholics swung this vote. And I know that in certain areas of Iowa, that is certainly true. What I would like to see now is that President Bush take that to heart and make more pro-life administration appointments.” McAlister says this march features a mix of emotion. She says it’s a great event and they look to have fun. But, she says the march itself is a very solemn event as they’re marking the lives of 40-million people who’re not longer here. McAlister says some 300 Iowans are expected to march today. She says they’re taking a lot of youth to the event and, ” It strikes all of us as we are marching past the Supreme Court and past the Capitol in petitioning Congress for redress for this terrible plague on our country, that there are so many more us who are not there, and will never be here and will never have the chance to experience life.” January 22nd is the actual anniversary of the Supreme Court decision on abortion, but they’re marching today since the 22nd falls on a Saturday.
