March for Life 2024: Anti-abortion advocates plan protest in nation's capital

Thousands are expected to gather in the nation’s capital Friday to protest against abortion in the 51st annual March for Life rally. 

“The march is an opportunity for pro-lifers to make sure everybody knows that we’re not going away,” said Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee.

Tobias told USA TODAY she has seen energy and enthusiasm despite setbacks in the anti-abortion movement over the last year. Abortion rights advocates have been on a winning streak at the polls with voters in seven states either passing ballot measures to protect abortion access or rejecting efforts to restrict it.  

The rally is scheduled to begin at noon on the National Mall, before moving toward the Capitol building and finishing in front of the Supreme Court, the stage of contentious abortion rights decisions that have impacted many across the nation.

What to know about Friday's March for Life rally

Scheduled speakers for Friday’s march include politicians, religious leaders and advocates, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., a co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, and Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship. 

“For the past 51 years, the March for Life has powerfully witnessed to the tragedy of abortion, while calling for stronger protections for women and the unborn,” said March for Life president Jeanne Mancini. "This year’s speakers will address the 2024 theme – Pro-life: With Every Woman, For Every Child, which is at the heart of the pro-life movement, in their remarks."

Mancini said the rally will highlight pregnancy care centers and maternity homes.

Demonstrators are forecast to get slammed with up to 3 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service, as a winter weather advisory will go into effect 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. Police have announced a slew of street closures in anticipation of Friday's rally.

A livestream of the march will be available on the organizer's Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Abortion access in 2024

2024 is expected to be a contentious year for abortion rights in the U.S. as the Supreme Court and its conservative majority is set to hear more cases on abortion access and a swath of states could have abortion access on ballots.

The overturning of Roe v Wade in June 2022 erased the constitutional right to abortion and left behind a patchwork of restrictions in state laws. Fourteen states – over a quarter of the country – have banned abortion. But other states have seen a rise in abortion rates after Roe was overturned, according to a study.

Authored by the Society of Family Planning, a group that advocates for abortion access, the report found the number of procedures fell to nearly zero in states with the strictest bans, and rose in areas with more lenient laws, especially if they were close to places that enacted full bans. Since 2022, most Republican-controlled states have enacted restrictions, while most Democrat-controlled states have extended protections for those from out of state seeking abortion.

Among the cases before the Supreme Court is one that could threaten access to mifepristone, one of two drugs known as an abortion pill, even in states where abortion is legal.

According to the study, the states with the largest declines in abortions also tended to have the most disparities in maternal healthcare and poverty levels. Researchers said working-class people and those of color were most impacted by the federal ban, with about 75% of abortion patients living on low incomes.