PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, January 24, 2005

CONTACT:      Illinois Right to Life Committee
William Beckman, Executive Director, 312-422-9300

March for Life marks 32nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade decision

In spite of a weekend full of snow from the Midwest to the East Coast, an estimated 250,000 citizens traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the annual March for Life, marking the 32nd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions that legalized abortion in the USA for all nine months of pregnancy. 

This large gathering of Pro-Life citizens from throughout the nation heard encouraging words from President George W. Bush during the rally that preceeded the march.  Then, enduring the usually cold weather, they marched from near the Washington Monument to the Supreme Court.  Constitution Avenue was filled with marchers like a tsunami wave of humanity.

Young people were abundant among the participants in the March for Life.  They were bused in from many states, including a good number of buses from Illinois.  These young people recognize the importance to defend the right to life for their unborn brothers and sisters.

At the same time, the Supreme Court announced its decision not to take the Florida case seeking a review of a Florida Supreme Court's decision.  That case sought to overturn the decision that Terri's Law is unconstitutional.  The likely result will be the starvation of Terri Schiavo, a disabled woman, if her feeding tube is removed.  Apparently, the Supreme Court has lost respect for human life, both of unborn children and the disabled.

Abortion has not improved life for American women and has resulted in the death of over 45 million children since 1973, leaving many families with lost brothers and sisters, children and grandchildren that they will never know.  Allowing removal of feeding tubes of the disabled adds insult to injury.

It is time to restore the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that is promised in the Declaration of Independence.  The Supreme Court has lost its way.  It is failing to defend the right to life established by our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. 

William Beckman
Executive Director
Illinois Right to Life Committee
65 E. Wacker Place, Suite 800
Chicago, IL 60601
312-422-9300
beckman@illinoisrighttolife.org
www.illinoisrighttolife.org

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Illinois Right to Life Committee, founded in 1968, is the oldest Pro-Life educational organization in Illinois.