WASHINGTON – This week hundreds of thousands of pro-life advocates are descending upon Washington for dozens of pro-life events that will be held throughout the capital, culminating in the 41st Annual March for Life on Wednesday.
Over the last four decades, millions of Americans have participated in the march, which takes place on the anniversary of the Roe V. Wade Supreme Court ruling.
This year is expected to be one of the largest marches ever, beginning with a rally on the National Mall featuring speeches from pro-life advocates, members of Congress, talk radio personalities and more.
The Media Research Center announced it will produce a March For Life documentary, and it has agreed to review and possibly use video from those attending the week's pro-life activities.
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The decision to make the documentary came in response to what the organization called a "media blackout" of coverage of the massive event.
In 2013, the major networks spent only 17 seconds covering the more than half-a-million participants in the 40th Annual March for Life.
To put it in perspective, Newsbusters reported that 521 times more coverage was given to Manti Te'o, and his fantasy football story of a fictional girlfriend.
Despite the media blackout of the biggest pro-life march in America over the years, support for pro-life policies has been growing nationwide. A 2013 Gallup poll found that more Americans now identify as pro-life than pro-choice, with 48 percent identifying as pro-life compared to only 45 percent identifying as pro-choice.
Pro-life victories on a state level have been even more notable. Last July, the Texas Senate passed a controversial ban on abortions after 20 weeks. North Carolina passed a law requiring abortion providers to show women seeking abortions an ultrasound. However, the law was subsequently struck down.
Colorado has pending a legislative proposal that would make make abortion illegal in the state.
This week, events promise to be even larger than last year's March for Life, which brought out more than 650,000 advocates. Events will also take place throughout the week.
At Georgetown University is the panel discussion "Publicly Pro-Life: Why Abortion Isn't a Private Issue" and several breakout sessions.
On Tuesday, pro-life advocates will descend upon Planned Parenthood in Washington to hold a prayer vigil for expectant mothers and the unborn. The prayer vigil will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Planned Parenthood located at 1108 16th St. N.W., Washington.
Later Tuesday, the fourth Annual March for Life Youth Rally will take place at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in D.C. from 2 to 5 p.m. The event will be emceed by Eric Scheidler of the Pro-Life Action League and include speeches by Dr. Alveda King; Lila Rose of Live Action; Janet Morana, co-founder of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign; Troy Newman of Operation Rescue; and many others. A full list of speakers is available at StandTrue.com.
Also Tuesday will be the Students for Life of America National Conference just outside of D.C. in Upper Marlboro, Md. For more information and to register, visit the SLFALive.org website.
Later Tuesday, the Beltway Right to Life will host the Stand for Life reception at Buffalo Billiards in Dupont Circle in Washington. The event is open to the public ages 21 and up and will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Other Tuesday evening events include the National Prayer Vigil for Life at 6 p.m. at the National Basillica of the Immaculate Conception in D.C. and a Spanish language rally, Uniendo Nuestras Voces, at Harris Theatre at George Mason University. Tickets are available for purchase at the LatinosProLaVida.com site.
On Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. the march for the National Memorial for the Preborn and Their Mothers will take place at Constitutional Hall, located at 1776 D St. N.W., Washington. It is open to the public and will include an interdenominational mass followed by a prayer service.
The Archdiocese of Washington will hold a Youth Rally and Mass for Life at the Verizon Center and D.C. Armory. The event is already sold out.
Also on Wednesday morning, the Family Research Council will host ProlifeCon at its D.C. headquarters. Internet activists are invited to attend to hear from experts and legislators on new ways to use new media in the pro-life movement. More information is available from the FRC Web pages. The event will also be webcast for those unable to attend.
Confirmed speakers for ProLifeCon include former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum; Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo.; Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md.; the Duggar family, stars of TLC's "19 Kids & Counting"; Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council; and blogger Jill Stanek.
Also on Wednesday, 40 Days for Life will host a meet and greet at the Hyatt Regency, Capitol Hill, prior to the march from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
On Wednesday at 2 p.m. the Heritage Foundation will hold a screening of the documentary "40," which presents abortion as "the greatest human rights issue of our time." Space is limited. Information on the film is available at www.the40film.com.
On Thursday, the Heritage Foundation will also hold the author event, "Abuse of Discretion: the Inside Story of Roe v. Wade," at 12 p.m.
For a full list of March for Life related events taking place in and around D.C. this week, visit MarchForLife.org.