WASHINGTON, D.C., JAN. 22, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Some 300,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C. today to mark the 37th anniversary of the U.S. supreme court decision that legalized abortion.
Half of the multitude that attended the annual rally and March for Life was under the age of 25, Father Thomas Euteneuer, president of Human Life International, told the Eternal Word Television Network.
Another 75,000 participated in the pro-life demonstration through a Virtual March for Life, an initiative sponsored by Americans United for Life Action.
The action group launched a Web site for people who support the cause and want their voices to be heard but were unable to attend the event.
The Web page allowed users to sign in and choose an avatar — a digital figure — to be placed on a map in front of the congressional buildings, thereby making a stand to defend life.
Several political and social leaders participated in this virtual march, including Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska, Michael Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, Rick Perry, governor of Texas, Timothy Pawlenty, governor of Minnesota, several congressmen, and other personalities.
In a Facebook entry, Palin affirmed, «Together we can bear witness to the beauty and blessings of the culture of life.»
Members of the action group kept the online community updated with on-the-scene blog entries. They also created a network through Twitter and Facebook for pro-life activists to connect, comment and participate in today’s events.
Charmaine Yoest, president and CEO of Americans United for Life, explained in a letter that «with a health care bill that includes taxpayer funding for abortion hanging in the balance, this is an important, historic opportunity to get the attention of politicians in Washington.»
«In this critical moment, every American must be heard regardless of where you are,» she affirmed.
This year is the «most important March for Life in history,» Yoest said. «So much is at stake in this moment.»
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On the Net:
Virtual March for Life: VirtualMarchforLife.com
