Local residents participate in March for Life
Dozens of local residents joined thousands of anti-abortion activists marching through the streets of Washington, D.C., and holding rallies Wednesday, urging the Supreme Court to reverse the landmark decision legalizing abortions in the U.S. The March for Life coincided with the 30th anniversary of the high court’s Wade vs. Roe decision.
Making the trip from the area included a group of students from St. Hugh’s Roman Catholic Church in Carmichaels. The group left for Washington, D.C., Tuesday and attended Mass at the Bascilla of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Tuesday evening.
They were up again early Wednesday morning for a youth rally held at the Convention Center in downtown Washington. All of the teens agreed that seeing so many young people at the pro-life activities was refreshing.
“It’s comforting to know that they think the same way that we do,” said Julia Pascuzzo, a junior at Carmichaels High School.
“You don’t really realize how many people are out there, and this is a great event to come together for the same thing,” added Danielle Kittredge, a senior at Carmichaels High School.
Holly Homistek, a junior at Carmichaels High School, was also impressed with the number of people who showed up for the events.
“It was amazing that there are so many people here,” Homistek said.
The teen’s leader, Lu Popielarcheck, said that the girls are a positive example for other youths.
“Usually you only hear the bad things, and these kids are here standing up for what they believe in,’ said Popielarcheck.
The morning youth rally packed the Convention Center and had a contemporary feeling, featuring a Christian rock band, gospel choir, and even a rapping priest.
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the head of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., addressed the crowd and told them to stand by their beliefs.
“We have a lot of hope in our hearts. We will be around for a long, long time till we finally win,” said Cardinal McCarrick.
The Rev. Rob Panke, director of vocations for the Washington, D.C., Archdiocese, said it was refreshing to see so many young people at the rally.
“It’s encouraging that we are witnessing the next generation of the pro-life movement,” the Rev. Panke said.
Following the youth rally was the annual March for Life, a parade of thousands of abortion foes in sub-freezing temperatures that ended on the steps of the Supreme Court.
Members of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Perryopolis chartered a bus for the event and 43 people made the trip to voice their opposition to abortion.
“We are really pleased to be here and stand up for the sanctity of human life,” said the group’s leader, the Rev. John Eucker.
Rev. Eucker added that, “We are here for positive reasons. We are not trying to be oppressive but to speak for the protection of the unborn child.”
Politics also figured heavily into the event, with many protestors expressing strong support for President Bush and Congressional Republicans, many of whom are also pro-life.
“I am totally against abortion, and I’m here to support President Bush in this fight,” said Richard Garbutt of Smock.
“It’s good to see a lot of pro-life senators here too,” Garbutt added.
President Bush spoke to the rally through a television screen and made it clear that he was opposed to the Roe vs. Wade ruling. He also sent a representative to the Bascilla Mass held Tuesday night, something that impressed Popielarcheck.
“I was really impressed with that. It was good to hear and know that we have his support,” Popielarcheck said.