Antiabortion Advocates Hold Rally In Washington State On Inauguration Day

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 23 Jan 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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The annual March for Life rally in Washington state drew more than 4,000 antiabortion advocates to the front of the state Capitol building on Tuesday -- the same day as the inauguration of President Obama -- the Olympian/Seattle Times reports. The rally -- which is typically the largest gathering at the state's capitol during the legislative session -- traditionally is held on Jan. 22, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. However, the rally's date was moved to Tuesday when abortion-rights supporters were the first to secure a permit for a rally on Jan. 22, according to state officials. Noreen McEntee Hobson, president of March for Life, said, "Inauguration means a new beginning." She added that in his inaugural address, Obama spoke about the "God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." McEntee Hobson, along with other attendees of Tuesday's rally, said that the rights Obama referred to should be extended to fetuses (Wilson, Olympian/Seattle Times, 1/21).

Speaking at the rally, state Rep. Matt Shea (R) said, "Let's make sure the Supreme Court can hear all of us today." According to the Spokane Spokesman-Review, about one dozen abortion-rights advocates gathered at the State Supreme Court to counter the antiabortion protest (Roesler, Spokane Spokesman-Review, 1/21). According to the Times, a majority of the crowd at the antiabortion rally was comprised of Roman Catholic groups, including elementary school groups and Knights of Columbus councils (Olympian/Seattle Times, 1/21).

Jet Tilley, public policy director of Planned Parenthood of the Inland Northwest, said she does not believe there will be any major efforts to restrict abortion access in the state this year, adding that the main concern for abortion-rights supporters will be protecting funding for family planning. According to Tilley, funding for family planning is especially crucial in rural areas of the state where access to health care is limited (Spokane Spokesman-Review, 1/21).

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