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Mike Pence proclaims 'life is winning again in America' at March for Life in DC Mike Pence proclaims 'life is winning again in America' at March for Life in DC
(about 17 hours later)
On Tuesday night, Mikki Deters and her younger sister, Marcail, boarded a bus in Wichita, Kansas. Twenty-four hours later, the sisters arrived in the nation’s capital, where on Friday they would join thousands of pro-life activists in a march along National Mall to the steps of the supreme court that 44 years ago legalized abortion. On Tuesday night, Mikki Deters and her younger sister, Marcail, boarded a bus in Wichita, Kansas. Twenty-four hours later, the sisters arrived in the nation’s capital, where on Friday they joined thousands of anti-abortion activists in a march along the National Mall to the steps of the supreme court that 44 years ago legalized abortion.
They waited in the winding security line awash with posters that read, “I am the pro-life generation” and “Don’t need Planned Parenthood”. Some held graphic images of fetuses while others chose more subtle messaging: “Trump loves the bump” and “A person’s a person no matter how small – Dr Seuss” read one young girl’s colorful sign decorated with stickers. They waited in the winding security line awash with posters that read “I am the pro-life generation” and “Don’t need Planned Parenthood”. Some held graphic images of fetuses, while others chose more subtle messaging. “Trump loves the bump” and “A person’s a person no matter how small – Dr Seuss” read one young girl’s colorful sign decorated with stickers.
The March For Life is something of a tradition in the Deters family. Deters, 22, who traveled to DC as part of a multi-bus caravan with Bishop Carroll Catholic high school, a private institution in Wichita, said this was her fourth year attending – and hopes it’s her last.The March For Life is something of a tradition in the Deters family. Deters, 22, who traveled to DC as part of a multi-bus caravan with Bishop Carroll Catholic high school, a private institution in Wichita, said this was her fourth year attending – and hopes it’s her last.
“This is the first year I’ve come when I’ve felt like we might not have to come back next year,” Deters said. “And what I mean by that is that maybe we won’t have anything to protest next year and I won’t have to take a bus again.”“This is the first year I’ve come when I’ve felt like we might not have to come back next year,” Deters said. “And what I mean by that is that maybe we won’t have anything to protest next year and I won’t have to take a bus again.”
Deters was initially wary of Donald Trump and voted for a third-party candidate. But now she looks forward to the president following through on his promise to appoint a conservative supreme court justice who might overturn the right to an abortion in the US. Deters was initially wary of Donald Trump, and voted for a third-party candidate. But now she looks forward to the president following through on his promise to appoint a conservative supreme court justice who might overturn the right to an abortion in the US.
Indeed the new vice-president, Mike Pence, shared Deters’ sense of optimism when he addressed the crowd from a stage on the National Mall.Indeed the new vice-president, Mike Pence, shared Deters’ sense of optimism when he addressed the crowd from a stage on the National Mall.
“Because of all of you and because of the many thousands who stand with us in marches like this all across the nation, life is winning again in America,” Pence told the crowd to loud applause. This was the first time a sitting vice-president had attended the March for Life in its 44-year existence. “Because of all of you, and because of the many thousands who stand with us in marches like this all across the nation, life is winning again in America,” Pence told the crowd, to loud applause. This was the first time a sitting vice-president had attended the March for Life in its 44-year existence.
The March for Life, which bills itself as the “largest pro-life event in the world” was started to protest against Roe v Wade, a landmark decision handed down by the supreme court in 1973 that legalized abortion in America.The March for Life, which bills itself as the “largest pro-life event in the world” was started to protest against Roe v Wade, a landmark decision handed down by the supreme court in 1973 that legalized abortion in America.
This year’s march comes less than a week after millions of women, disgusted by Trump’s campaign rhetoric and behavior, took to the streets in cities around the world to protest against the new president and his agenda.This year’s march comes less than a week after millions of women, disgusted by Trump’s campaign rhetoric and behavior, took to the streets in cities around the world to protest against the new president and his agenda.
As thousands gathered along the National Mall for the afternoon rally and march, Trump tweeted his solidarity with their action. “The #MarchForLife is so important. To all of you marching – you have my full support!” As thousands gathered for the afternoon rally and march, Trump tweeted his solidarity with their action. “The #MarchForLife is so important. To all of you marching – you have my full support!”
The president was initially expected to call into the rally to spotlight the event. But the crowd heard from Pence and Kellyanne Conway, a counselor to the president who was introduced as “one of us”, as well as from Republicans lawmakers and other pro-life activists. The president was expected to call into the rally to spotlight the event. But the crowd heard from Pence and Kellyanne Conway, a counselor to the president who was introduced as “one of us”, as well as from Republicans lawmakers and other anti-abortion activists.
In his remarks, Pence touted Trump’s victory and the Republican control of Congress as proof that the anti-abortion movement would finally have its chance to limit – and potentially outlaw – abortion. He said Trump would announce his choice for supreme court justice next week and promised it would be someone “who will uphold the God-given liberties enshrined in our constitution in the tradition of the late and great Justice Antonin Scalia”. Pence touted Trump’s victory and the Republican control of Congress as proof that the anti-abortion movement would finally have its chance to limit – and potentially outlaw – abortion. He said Trump would announce his choice for supreme court justice next week and promised it would be someone “who will uphold the God-given liberties enshrined in our constitution in the tradition of the late and great Justice Antonin Scalia”.
“To heal our land and restore a culture of life we must continue to be a movement that embraces all and cares for all out of respect for the dignity and worth of every person,” Pence said to raucous applause. “To heal our land and restore a culture of life we must continue to be a movement that embraces all and cares for all out of respect for the dignity and worth of every person,” Pence said, to raucous applause.
Even Trump’s supporters admit that the president is an unlikely messenger for the movement. He has wavered in his support for abortion – calling himself “very pro-choice” on one occasion, and later reversing and declaring himself “pro-life”. On the campaign trail, Trump even suggested that women who have abortions should be punished. He quickly corrected the remark amid an onslaught of criticism to say that doctors, not women, who perform the procedure should be held responsible. Even Trump’s supporters admit the president is an unlikely messenger for the movement. He has wavered in his support for abortion – calling himself “very pro-choice” on one occasion, and later reversing and declaring himself “pro-life”. On the campaign trail, Trump even suggested that women who have abortions should be punished. He quickly corrected the remark after an onslaught of criticism to say that doctors, not women, who perform the procedure should be held responsible.
Early speculation suggested the twice-divorced businessman – who once cited the verse “two Corinthians” rather than the correct “second Corinthians” during his campaign and said he had never sought forgiveness for his sins – could not capture the vote of the pious.Early speculation suggested the twice-divorced businessman – who once cited the verse “two Corinthians” rather than the correct “second Corinthians” during his campaign and said he had never sought forgiveness for his sins – could not capture the vote of the pious.
But in the end, Trump won the election with substantial backing from the Christian right, one of the Republican party’s largest and most reliable voting blocs.But in the end, Trump won the election with substantial backing from the Christian right, one of the Republican party’s largest and most reliable voting blocs.
Eight in 10 people who identified as white born-again or evangelical Christians, voted for Trump, while just 16% voted for Clinton – a 65-percentage-point margin, according to an analysis by the Pew research center. Trump’s margin of victory among this group matched or exceeded the victory margins for George W Bush in 2004, John McCain in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012, the analysis found. Eight in 10 people who identified as white born-again or evangelical Christians voted for Trump, while just 16% voted for Clinton – a 65-percentage-point margin, according to an analysis by the Pew research center. Trump’s margin of victory among this group matched or exceeded the victory margins for George W Bush in 2004, John McCain in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012, the analysis found.
“Trump obviously said things that he shouldn’t have said, but I voted for him because he was pro-life,” said Elizabeth Wehren, 20, a student at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.“Trump obviously said things that he shouldn’t have said, but I voted for him because he was pro-life,” said Elizabeth Wehren, 20, a student at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
“He made promises to us that he would appoint pro-life justices and pass the Hyde amendment as permanent law, and the pain-capable bill that would prevent abortions after 20 weeks. That was the most important factor for me.”“He made promises to us that he would appoint pro-life justices and pass the Hyde amendment as permanent law, and the pain-capable bill that would prevent abortions after 20 weeks. That was the most important factor for me.”
And so far, Wehren believes Trump is keeping those promises.And so far, Wehren believes Trump is keeping those promises.
In one of the first acts of his presidency, Trump reinstated a Reagan-era policy banning international organizations that receive US government funding from providing abortion services or offering information about abortions. Trump has promised to sign into law a bill Republicans are pushing through Congress that would codify the Hyde amendment, a ban prohibiting US insurance carriers from offering policies that contain abortion coverage.In one of the first acts of his presidency, Trump reinstated a Reagan-era policy banning international organizations that receive US government funding from providing abortion services or offering information about abortions. Trump has promised to sign into law a bill Republicans are pushing through Congress that would codify the Hyde amendment, a ban prohibiting US insurance carriers from offering policies that contain abortion coverage.
In response to the vice president’s appearance, Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, called Pence’s remarks at the rally “radical” and “dangerous” and said to expect future protests and action if the White House attempts to unwind women’s reproductive rights. Dawn Laguens, executive vice-president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, called Pence’s remarks at the rally “radical” and “dangerous” and said to expect future protests and action if the White House attempts to unwind women’s reproductive rights.
“Americans do not want, and did not vote for, Pence’s extreme anti-woman agenda,” Laguens said in a statement. “On day two of this administration, millions of people – one in every 100 in this country – took to the streets to make clear they will not stand for attacks on women’s health. That was only the beginning.”“Americans do not want, and did not vote for, Pence’s extreme anti-woman agenda,” Laguens said in a statement. “On day two of this administration, millions of people – one in every 100 in this country – took to the streets to make clear they will not stand for attacks on women’s health. That was only the beginning.”
Support for abortion is at its highest in two decades, when PEW began polling public opinion on the issue. Roughly six-in-ten adults say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 37% say it should be illegal all or most of the time, according to PEW research center. Support for abortion is at its highest in two decades, when Pew began polling public opinion on the issue. Roughly six in 10 adults say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 37% say it should be illegal all or most of the time, according to Pew.
Though social conservatives ultimately overcame some initial hesitations to support Trump for president, many say they are assured that their cause has a champion in the vice-president. Though social conservatives overcame some initial hesitations to support Trump for president, many say they are assured that their cause has a champion in the vice-president.
“I’m thrilled that we have a Christian in the White House who supports our beliefs and has the ear of the president,” Beth Johnson, 70, who traveled from Show Low, Arizona, to Washington to march for the first time, said of Pence. “With him by the president’s side, I’m very excited about what this administration will do.”“I’m thrilled that we have a Christian in the White House who supports our beliefs and has the ear of the president,” Beth Johnson, 70, who traveled from Show Low, Arizona, to Washington to march for the first time, said of Pence. “With him by the president’s side, I’m very excited about what this administration will do.”