By Gabriella Borter

WASHINGTON (Reuters] – On Friday, anti-abortion supporters gathered in Washington for the annual March for Life. They were buoyed this year by state abortion restrictions as well as the possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court might soon overturn Roe v. Wade which allowed abortion to be legalized nationwide.

Tens of thousands anti-abortion activists gathered on the National Mall despite freezing temperatures. They carried signs reading “I am the post Roe generation” or “The future of abortion.”

It marks the 49th year anniversary of Roe V. Wade. However, Friday’s protestors were hopeful that it would be the last marches before the 1973 landmark ruling which allowed women to end a pregnancy at any time before the embryo is viable (around 24 weeks).

Rachel Young (19), came from Northeast Ohio to join her fellow students from Franciscan University of Steubenville. The Roman Catholic school sends many buses full of students on the 5 hour trip to Washington.

Young stated that she was attending her third March, but it was an exciting event because the Supreme Court was so close to overturning Roe.

“I just can’t even believe it,” she said. It is so amazing that God brought us to this point. It is so wonderful that God has brought us together.

The Supreme Court expressed its readiness to repeal Roe at arguments in a Mississippi case. Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh (conservative justices) expressed support for Mississippi’s controversial 15-week abortion ban. This is contrary to Roe’s precedent.

The ruling of the conservative-leaning court in Mississippi could change the status of abortion rights in America for almost half a century. It is likely that a ruling will be made by June end.

Jeanne Mancini is the president of March for Life. She said that activists hope “this year” will be closer to building the culture for life they have been marching for ever since Roe v. Wade was imposed upon our country nearly 50 years ago.

American politics have been split over abortion. There are two sides to the issue: abortion rights supporters who support a woman’s bodily autonomy and those opposed to abortion.

In recent years, Republican-controlled states have advanced legislation and policies making it harder for women to get an abortion. Guttmacher Institute is an organization that advocates for abortion rights. It found that 2021 had the highest number of restrictions on abortion rights in America in many decades. 108 restrictions were enacted by 19 states in December 31.

Liberate Abortion is a coalition that includes more than 100 advocacy groups for abortion rights. However, Sharmin Hossain, the coalition’s campaign director, said there was no plan to hold an in-person counterprotest at March for Life due to the increase in COVID-19. To mark Roe V. Wade’s 50th anniversary, the coalition is instead hosting a series virtual events.

Hossain explained that the March for Life organization is ironic because it doesn’t believe in people living their best life, a life free of shame and stigma.

A Texas law banning abortion after six weeks was celebrated by the anti-abortion group. It also gave private citizens the right to sue any person who helps someone get an abortion beyond that gestational limit. As it is being challenged by lower courts, the Supreme Court allowed this law to remain in effect, even though it was in place since September.

Mark Lee Dickson is the director of Right to Life of East Texas’ anti-abortion group. He said that he was inspired by the huge crowds of protesters gathered in front of the Supreme Court for oral arguments in the Mississippi case and would be attending the March for Life in Washington.

He said, “There might not be another March For Life with Roe in the books. So I want to participate in this.”