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Snow or Shine, Roe v. Wade Events to Continue

Sunny and snowless day on Jan. 22, 2015. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Sunny and snowless day on Jan. 22, 2015. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Despite the snowpocalypse expected to hit the East Coast on Friday, leaders on both sides of the issue are gearing up to mark another anniversary of the Supreme Court’s abortion decision.  

Since the year after Roe v. Wade in 1973, anti-abortion advocates have been protesting every year on the anniversary at the March for Life, the organizers say that despite the forecast, this year’s March for Life will not be canceled  on Friday.  

Meanwhile, abortion rights advocates appear to be following a similar course. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s campaign has scheduled a Roe v. Wade event on Friday that is also expected to go forward. The event will take place in Concord, N.H. Three of the Granite State’s pre-eminent public officials, Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Gov. Maggie Hassan and Rep. Ann McLane Kuster are expected to join Clinton to celebrate the decision that “saved women’s lives,” according to the invitation. (Hassan is running for the Senate seat held currently by Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.)  

“I’ll be attending Friday’s event to stand in solidarity with NARAL’s efforts to protect women’s constitutional rights and introduce the candidate for President who has stood-up for women her entire career, Hillary Clinton,” Shaheen told HOH.  

“Hillary Clinton has an outstanding track record as an advocate for women across the country, and I know she will never give up the fight to ensure that every American woman can make her own personal health care decisions for herself,” Kuster said.  

Back in Washington, anti-abortion politicians are participating in the March for Life, including Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Rep. Christopher H. Smith, R-N.J.; and presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina.  

“The theme for this year’s march conveys a very important message,” Ernst told HOH. “As a mother and grandmother, I firmly believe that pro-life and pro-women does indeed go hand-in-hand. In order to rise and meet our commitment to stand for life, we must protect the most vulnerable in our society — particularly those who cannot protect themselves.”  

“Pro-Life and Pro-Woman Go Hand-in-Hand” is the march’s 2016 theme.  

March for Life’s main rally on Capitol Hill will take place at 12 p.m. On Friday night, retiring Rep. Joe Pitts, R-Penn., will be awarded the March for Life Achievement Award at the 34th annual Rose Dinner.  

“Every human being has immutable value,” Pitts told HOH. “I am deeply grateful for this honor, and to all of those who have labored these 43 years for the equal protection of every human life.”


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