The world’s largest pro-life event took place in Washington DC, with reports of hundreds of thousands of people marching under the banner “Love Saves Lives”.
The annual March for Life event coincided with the 45th anniversary of Roe v Wade – the Supreme Court decision which legalised abortion nationwide.
Donald Trump addressed the crowd via a live stream from the White House, the first ever sitting US President to do so.
‘Right to life’
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.
President Trump reaffirmed his administration’s position on pro-life issues by promising to defend “the right to life”.
Vice President Mike Pence also addressed the crowd and quoted from Jeremiah 1:5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.”
March for Life President Jeanne Mancini said: “Since 1973, abortion has claimed the lives of over 60 million Americans, and we grieve their loss.”
Organisers describe it as the “largest annual human rights demonstration in the world”.
Planned Parenthood
On the same day as the march, the White House announced that it has rescinded Obama-era guidance that made it more difficult for states to defund abortion giant Planned Parenthood.
Charmaine Yoest, Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, said the move was part of its effort to “roll back” regulations which “radically favour abortion”.
The White House also declared that 22 January 2018 was proclaimed by President Trump as “National Sanctity of Human Life Day.”
Donald Trump has previously spoken out in favour of abortion. In a 1999 interview with American news network NBC, he said that he was “very pro-choice”.