January 22, 2007 9:19 PM
March for Life 2007 - See it for yourself!
[This is my 2007 March for Life photo journal. For 2008 March for life photos, go here.]
As a former radical leftist, I attended many demonstrations in Washington, DC.Now having attended the March for Life two years in a row, I'm amazed at how under-reported this event is - and all too aware of how that under-reporting contributes to the rampant stereotyping of pro-lifers as middle-aged white males.
I actually saw very few of those today!
What I saw were hundreds of thousands of people willing to brave the cold (DC had its first snow of the winter the night before) to affirm that a baby in the womb is not property to be destroyed, but a person that those committed to human rights must defend.
It's a child, not a choice! A person, not property!
See my slideshow and comments by clicking on the album below:
Posted in Pro-Life Issues | Permalink
Comments
Oh, it was reported by the AP - about the 15th story down on their politics page... the headline?
Bush Hails Abortion Foes
Nice and objective, as always.
Mama Says
Posted by: Milehimama | January 22, 2007 10:17 PM
Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful, amazing photos. Some of them made me cry. God bless you and thanks again!
Posted by: Mary | January 22, 2007 10:34 PM
Great photos, Barbara! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Emma | January 22, 2007 11:32 PM
Thank you so much, Barbara, for posting these photos. I am so touched by the young people I know - and those in the photos you posted - that are passionate for life. My 15 yo daughter is one of them and she would have loved to have been there yesterday. Blessings in Him Who is the Author of all life!
Posted by: Patricia of Pollywog Creek | January 23, 2007 8:04 AM
Thank you for all the amazing pictures, Barbara! I'm viewing them as a slideshow right now.
I watched all my march coverage via EWTN.
Posted by: KatieButler | January 23, 2007 9:41 AM
Thanks for the beautiful photos and your comittment to such an important issue.
I have always believed that women have a choice....to get pregnant or not. Once pregnant--the choice has been made.....and you are so right...it's a child!
Diane
Posted by: Diane | January 23, 2007 10:25 AM
Thank you for these pics. They are very touching.
Posted by: paigeu | January 23, 2007 11:01 AM
Barbara, thanks for your pictures, my brothers were there, I was hoping maybe you caught one of them in your pics, no luck! I thank you for honestly protraying the Catholic presence. Maybe it is because the official Catholic teaching has never wavered when it comes to life. The Church will never approve of contraception, sterilization, or the final evil, abortion. The nature of sex is for procreation and unity. Sadly many Catholics do not understand the freedom that these teachings allow.
Thanks for all the good you do. I really do enjoy your wisdom and truthfulness.
Posted by: Carolyn | January 23, 2007 11:46 AM
What a delightful site. Thanks for the beautiful photos of the March.
Posted by: pam | January 23, 2007 12:20 PM
Barbara, I read your caption under the picture of the African-American minister who spoke so eloquently at the rally before the march. I wasn't able to watch all the coverage yesterday, but I did see his speech and thought it was fantastic. My google searches came up 'empty-handed'--best of luck in finding out who this gentlemen is, because I, too, would love to hear more of what he has to say.
Posted by: KatieButler | January 23, 2007 12:28 PM
It was fantastic to look through your pictures of the March. Thank you for documenting the joy, the youth and the unity among people of Faith. I especially loved seeing the little ones there in strollers! The resulting tears pouring down my face provided a great opportunity for me to remind my children how much I love them and begin to open their eyes to the bigger things going on around them. Thanks for including us who are many miles away.
And now, back to potty training...
Posted by: Ann Rannebarger | January 23, 2007 12:59 PM
Oh Barbara, how I wish I could have been there.
Posted by: Marie | January 23, 2007 1:01 PM
Thank you so much for sharing your photos with us. Your story of the counter-demonstrator and the woman who talked with her was very moving.
Posted by: Elissa | January 23, 2007 1:13 PM
I am a mother of four, who at age 20 made the worst choice in her life. I am a young woman who ABHORS abortion...I appreciate your effort and commend your going to the rally...thank you. I wish everyone knew what I know now...people really have no concept of what they are doing...sad, really truly sad...
Posted by: Tamara Cosby | January 23, 2007 1:14 PM
Fabulous pics, Barbara!
Posted by: mopsy | January 23, 2007 1:23 PM
I was complimented yesterday at the "Bloggers for Life" Conference before the March for Life in Washington, DC.(I'll be postings pictures as well) A gentlemen asked me if I was "Mommy Life"!
Were you at "Blogger for Life"? Wasn't Senator Brownback fabulous?! I got to know him a little bit, and he is truly sincere about the pro-life cause. He met my Christina (age 4 with Down Syndrome) and used her in his talk there, saying that 80% of children diagnosed with DS are aborted, and pleading with woment pregnant with a DS child to give it up for adoption, as there are actually waiting lists of parents wanting to adopt them. He has just the right balance of conservative family values, and compassion for those who consider, or have had abortions. He is a decent, caring, intelligent and well spoken advocate for all I believe in.
I unequivocably endorse Senator Brownback for president.
Posted by: leticia velasquez | January 23, 2007 2:07 PM
I wasn't at the march, but I think the preacher might be Luke Robinson of Quinn AME Church in Maryland. (Google is my friend! ;)
Here's the only news story I could find mentioning him:
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070123/25354_Young_Pro-Lifers_Emerge_as_New_Anti-Abortion_Force.htm
And here is his church's website:
http://www.quinnchapelamechurch.org/pastorsletter.html
Mama Says
Posted by: Milehimama | January 23, 2007 2:19 PM
My husband and daughter went to the march yesterday, while I stayed home with our youngest, 4 years old. They also praised the African American preacher at the rally, and I found his name in the paper this morning: Rev. Luke. J. Robinson, A.M.E. Church of Frederick, MD.
When we found out prenatally that our youngest would have Down syndrome, the doctor very brusquesly asked why I hadn't come in sooner so that "something could have been done" about the pregnancy. Barbara, THANK YOU for your pro-life posts this past week! We are fighting the culture of death (as Pope John Paul II said). Thank you for being a voice for the disabled!
Posted by: Betty | January 23, 2007 2:48 PM
The nuns in grey with white veils (first pic of nuns) are Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal from New York City. They were founded by Fr. Benedict Groeschell of the Capuchin Friars of the Renewal, in case you want to read more about them in particular. (I love his books and he's on EWTN every Sunday night at 7pm--he has a terrific New York sense of humor and it's a live show so it's always interesting).
Posted by: Betty | January 23, 2007 3:08 PM
As for the African American preacher his name is The Rev. Luke J. Robinson.
Thank you very much for the photos, it was a very powerful march.
Posted by: Alejandro Flores | January 23, 2007 3:31 PM
Thank you so much! I saw your link on Michelle Malkin's site and decided to look in after noting the lack of coverage from the MSM. What vitality is pictured, and the large groups of young folks is heartwarming! Keep up the good work.
Posted by: marie | January 23, 2007 3:50 PM
Thank you for those pictures -- they made me cry! I love the Stand True guy at the end. They have a presence on MySpace and it used to be in my friend's list (I don't ever get around to MySpace anymore).
Next month a local church is having a charity Walk for Life to raise money for a local CPC. I'm planning to go but I haven't decided if I'm bringing my kids yet (the 8 year olds). They don't know what abortion is, but thanks to having 4 younger siblings they know plenty about babies in-utero, and I know they would want to help them (and their mothers).
Posted by: Michelle Potter | January 23, 2007 4:49 PM
Thank you so much for all the great pictures. I have promised my family that one day we WILL travel there and be part of the walk. Your coverage brought me closer to the walk than anything the mainstream would ever give me.
I have often wondered to myself why there is no outrage from the African-American community in regards to the lopsided abortion statistics and the fact that the most vocal pro-choice characters all have white faces! I was so relieved to see the Rev. speaking! I look forward to hearing about any visit you may have with him in the future!
Posted by: Kelly | January 23, 2007 5:06 PM
Thank you!
Posted by: Dani | January 24, 2007 6:36 AM
Wow! Barbara, I just got done reading your BIO and I must say, I'm still gathering my bearings. It is always inspirational for me to read about other Moms who share their honest, sometimes dificult experiences for us others to learn and become inspired by. I for one, have gone from being a One Dimensional Parent to a Three Dimensional parent by simply having a child with an extra Chromosome. It is so profound how just having one child who is deemed "different" can completely change your whole perspective on life, and give you completely different purposes and passions. It is an experience I have found to be quite Universal amongst us Mom's with these Extraoridnary Children. Never can too much be written regarding the subject of Prenatal Testing! People need to become educated and aware of what all of this prenatal testing is really leading to ultimately, it is leading to us trying to decide who deserves a chance at life and who doesn't, us deciding who is "perfect" and who isn't. This is an issue I am doing everything in my power to talk about, raise awareness about, and educate others about. Most people have no idea that the Genetic Counselors are actually Drug Company Reps who supply the prenatal tests! What?! Isn't this CRAZY? Women are still getting Horrific, Inaccurate information regarding Down Syndrome. And Frankly, The Whole Name should change so that "DOWN" is taken out! How about T-21? Thank you for keeping such a great blog! Noelle, www.jadensjournal.blogspot.com
Posted by: Noelle | January 24, 2007 4:28 PM
"And Frankly, The Whole Name should change so that "DOWN" is taken out!"
I actually agree with you on that one, Noelle, and I'm not much for PC language. But if I had a child with T21, I wouldn't want him associated with John Down. From Wikipedia:
"English physician John Langdon Down first characterized Down syndrome as a distinct form of mental retardation in 1862, and in a more widely published report in 1866 entitled "Observations on an ethnic classification of idiots". Due to his perception that children with Down syndrome shared physical facial similarities (epicanthal folds) with those of Blumenbach's Mongolian race, Down used terms such as mongolism and Mongolian idiocy. Idiocy was a medical term used at that time to refer to a severe degree of intellectual impairment. Down wrote that mongolism represented "retrogression," the appearance of Mongoloid traits in the children of allegedly more advanced Caucasian parents."
Posted by: Michelle Potter | January 24, 2007 5:13 PM
You HAVE to see this video!!
http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2007/01/nick-cannon-can-i-live/
I don't know the address off You tube, but by going here you can also see the lyrics to this POWERFUL video!! Have tissues ready!
Posted by: Paula | January 24, 2007 8:59 PM
Thanks for sharing such awesome photos. I loved looking at them. You are a good photographer. Julie
Posted by: julie | January 24, 2007 10:46 PM
Thanks to everyone for your encouraging words! I hope you can see I had a LOT of fun!
Love,
Barbara
Posted by: barbara | January 25, 2007 1:23 PM
Barbara, thank you so much for posting those pictures. I wish we could have gone. But my sister was there, and we were there in spirit.
When I was 16 I had the privelage of eating lunch with those lovely Franciscan Renewal sisters in their tiny little convent in NYC. They are SO COOL! And I'm not even Catholic. :) Fresh, beautiful, joyful, and full of life!
Posted by: Margaret | January 25, 2007 2:38 PM
We had the privelege of eating with the same sisters(plus the many new recruits since) last December 28th, as they had a pro-life march to an abortion mill in New York City. There were 5 babies saved! We returned to church and share a buffet lunch together. What a delight it was to spend time in their joyful company. I have photos of this on my blog.
Posted by: Leticia | January 25, 2007 9:12 PM
What stirring, upbeat photographs. Contrast these with the pix of the anti-war types, all twisted in anger. Thank you for attending, and for photographing and reporting the event.
Stan M.
Mobile, AL
Posted by: Blogger1947 | January 28, 2007 10:48 PM
I loved the photos and comments about the march, but I was sorry to read the comment from the guy who said that anti-war types were "twisted in anger." I'm a peace marcher, and I don't think that comment describes me or most of the peace marchers I've seen. I have also marched for life many times, and so have many other peace activists.
Posted by: Elizabeth Edinger | February 3, 2007 7:31 PM
