(NewsNation) —- The 51st March for Life is set to begin in Washington, D.C., where anti-abortion attendees will be facing cold, snowy weather.
According to the permit from the National Parks Service, organizers expect about 50,000 to 200,000 people for the second march since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. But it’s not clear if the weather will affect turnout, with two to four inches of snow on the ground and more continuing to fall.
The main rally will begin at noon on Friday, followed by a march near the National Mall. Key speakers at the event include House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA, and former NFL tight end Benjamin Watson.
The march comes as the U.S. has a patchwork of abortion laws since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Since then, 14 states have banned abortion, while voters in seven states have voted to protect abortion rights or stuck down further restrictions.
According to recent data, abortions are actually up slightly since Roe v. Wade fell. That has led anti-abortion activists to call for action on the federal level.
That’s something they want to hear reflected in the GOP presidential candidates in particular, some of whom haven’t been clear on where they fall. Former President Donald Trump hasn’t really committed to a federal abortion ban, leaving it unclear if he would support one or sign it into law.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a six-week abortion ban into law in Florida and said that he supports a limit of 15 weeks at the federal level.
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley also dodged the question, saying she is 100% pro-life but has not committed to a specific limit on the number of weeks of pregnancy where abortion would be allowed.
On the other side, progressives are pushing President Joe Biden to speak more about abortion and his campaign seems to be listening, with his first rally with Vice President Kamala Harris set to happen Tuesday. The pair are expected to speak about abortion.
According to the Biden campaign, the event will “highlight the stakes of this election for a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions.”
For both sides, it’s clear abortion rights will be playing a role in the crucial presidential election in 2024.
