Thousands attend pro-life rally

TWT Video:March for Life

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the landmark ruling establishing the nationwide right to abortion.

Thousands of demonstrators participated in the march despite chilly weather. Predicted snow and rain held off except for occasional cold drizzle.

"The weather wants to keep us away but our hearts are on fire!" said Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio, one of many lawmakers who spoke at a two-hour rally on the Mall before the march.

President Bush voiced support for those attending the event, known as the March for Life.

"Thirty-five years ago today the United States Supreme Court declared and decided that under the law an unborn child is not considered a person, but we know many things about the unborn," said Bush, who hosted about 200 of the demonstrators in the East Room for coffee and doughnuts.

In remarks that were later broadcast to other demonstrators, Bush said biology confirms that from the start, each unborn child is a separate individual with his or her own genetic code.

"Babies can now survive outside the mother's womb at younger and younger ages," he said. "And the fingers and toes and beating hearts that we can see on an unborn child's ultrasound come with something that we cannot see: a soul."

As night fell in Washington, several dozen women marched outside the Supreme Court in support of abortion rights. A larger crowd of anti-abortion demonstrators listened to statements from women who said they have come to regret their abortions.

Supreme Court police reported no problems or arrests.