Thousands Gather For March For Life Rally In DC
WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Thousands of abortion opponents gathered in the shadow of the Washington Monument Friday for an annual rally that's taken on new energy this year with President Donald Trump in office.
PHOTOS: March For Life
Vice President Mike Pence addressed the crowd gathered for the March for Life, the first time a sitting vice president has done so.
"Because of all of you and 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.
He said the Trump administration would "work with the Congress to end taxpayer funding of abortion and abortion providers, and we will devote those resources to health care services for women across America.''
Pence said the nation's founders, in the Declaration of Independence, intended "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness'' to be for all Americans, including the unborn.
He accused the U.S. Supreme Court, in its landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 that legalized abortion, of having "turned away from these timeless ideals.''
Many headed to the march earlier Friday morning were excited that Pence was going to be addressing the crowd.
"It's really going to energize the whole crowd that's there," Mary King told WCBS 880's Sean Adams.
"I see a chance for a real change now," another man said.
One of Trump's first executive orders was a ban on U.S. aid to foreign groups that provide abortions, CBS2 reported.
Trump has also promised to appoint Supreme Court justices who are opposed to abortion.
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