 "Photo: The Associated Press")
WASHINGTON - Women's rights advocates flooded the National Mall yesterday afternoon as they joined in the March for Women's Lives, which organizers and media believe posted record-breaking numbers of attendance of over one million people.
From the Washington Monument to Capitol Hill, the women at the march and rally advocated for increased access to sex education, family planning, health care and abortion, as well as workers' rights, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered rights and the maintenance of social welfare programs.
The event was initiated by human and women rights organizations, that believe the current presidential administration poses a threat to women's fundamental rights. President George W. Bush in office criminalized partial birth abortion. Furthermore, pro-choice advocates believe the 5-4 vote in the Supreme Court to uphold the Roe v. Wade decision may be threatened by the impending retirement plans of several justices.
The cloudy and cool weather proved beneficial for protestors, many of which were outside all day. Marchers flooded the city's subway and the streets throughout the morning to reach the mall. After assembling by the Washington monument, marchers walked past the White House and through the city streets on a roughly mile-long course. The energetic marchers waved signs donning politically-charged messages like, "Get your church out of my crotch," as they chanted, "We're gonna beat back at the Bush attack" and, "1,2,3, choice."
Throughout the day, the masses of people forced some participants to seek refuge on the steps of national monuments and museums bordering the mall. Men and women carrying signs, wearing shirts with slogans, like "This is what a feminist looks like," and dotted with stickers on their bodies could be seen throughout the city.
A long list of celebrities and politicians led the festivities including Howard Dean, Susan Sarandon, Ashley Judd, Moby, Janeane Garafalo, the Mammas and the Pappas, Ted Turner, Nancy Paluzzi, Sandra Bernhard, Cameron Mannheim, the Indigo Girls and Sheryl Crow.
Through raised fists and voices, all of the speakers displayed a sense of passion and urgency at the microphone. Whoopi Goldberg's address stirred the audience. Standing behind the podium, Goldberg raised a hanger and explained that before abortion was legalized, the hanger was a woman's only choice to terminate a pregnancy.
"This is what we used. Never again," Goldberg said. The crowd joined her as "Never again, never again" echoed off the buildings.
Madeline Albright, the former secretary of state, received a roaring welcome from the crowd that resounded long after she appeared settled at the podium. Albright offered a statement about the profound global impacts of reproductive rights.
Albright said she has traveled around the world, and she has found that "family planning and reproductive rights are part of the solution" to any problem a person could name including poverty, pollution and terrorism.
Long-time political activist and feminist Gloria Steinem reasoned the magnitude of the event was the result a diversity of its participants. More than one third of the women in the audience are under 25 years old, Steinem said. "I hope I never again hear there are no young feminists."
Participants not only varied by age but also by gender and sexual preference. From any vantage point, it was possible to see couples of all sexualities freely exhibiting public displays of affection.
One couple that broke the traditional stereotype of feminists was Jeff Robinson and Brett Mannes. The couple lives in the Washington area, only 10 blocks from the mall, and said they could not miss the opportunity to take part in what they called the largest march in United States history.
"We're gay, and we're feminists," Robinson said, explaining why the couple attended. "[But] the broader issue is control." Robinson continued, saying there is a need for separation between church and state on the abortion issue.
Mannes said the same is true with the issue of legalizing gay marriage.
The size of the parade also intrigued Washington local Kelly Courtney. "It's the biggest [rally] I've ever seen in my life [in the mall]." Courtney went on, "It looks like that scene from 'Forrest Gump.'"
The rally was a peaceful event, however the debate between pro-life supporters and pro-choice activists was evident along the march. Event organizers told marchers "Truth" vans filled with pro-life advocates would be riding on the marching route.
Pro-life advocates gathered alongside the pro-choice marchers and voiced their opinion by carrying signs that read "Abortion Kills" and other similar sentiments.
Pro-life advocates carried large-scale pictures of dismembered fetuses. One such picture illustrated Jesus holding one of the fetuses.
According to Shira Pruce, a Douglass College fourth year, the University sent the largest delegation. Early yesterday morning 10 buses carrying over 500 students to Washington D.C. left from College Avenue.
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