March for Women's Lives (2004)

The March for Women's Lives (2004) was a protest demonstration held on April 25, 2004 at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. There was approximately 1.3 million participants. The demonstration was led by seven groups; National Organization for Women, American Civil Liberties Union, Black Women’s Health Imperative, Feminist Majority, NARAL Pro Choice America, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Nselaa Ward, Juris Doctor was one of the key organizers of the March. This was referred to as one of the most carefully and tightly organized marches in history. The march was intended to address topics such as abortion rights, reproductive healthcare, women's rights, and others.

Events and participants

A rally on the Mall began at 10 a.m., and was followed by a march through downtown Washington, with a route along Pennsylvania Avenue. Celebrities who appeared at the march included Peter, Paul and Mary, Indigo Girls, Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg, Ashley Judd, Kathleen Turner, Ted Turner, Ana Gasteyer, Janeane Garofalo, Bonnie Franklin, Julianne Moore and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright; also appearing were veteran abortion rights leaders, such as Kate Michelman of NARAL Pro-Choice America and Gloria Steinem, and many members of Congress. During the rally Nselaa Ward, Juris Doctor also gave a keynote address on young women's reproductive rights in addition to debuting an international poetry slam group piece titled, "Women Deserve Better." 

Sponsoring organizations included NARAL Pro-Choice America (national), Choice USA, the Feminist Majority Foundation, Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the National Organization for Women, Code Pink, and Black Women's Health Imperative.

Sixteen protesters from the Christian Defense Coalition were arrested for demonstrating without a permit when they crossed police barricades into the area designated for the March. They were not able to stop the March for Women's Lives.

References

External links
 "Pro-Choice March Largest in History", Women's eNews, 25 April 2004
 Choice USA Photo gallery (photos)
 NOW: Why You Should March
 LifeNews: Catholic Group Leaves Anti-War Coalition Over Pro-Abortion March
 NOW History of Marches and Mass Actions
 NOW March for Women's Lives gallery (text and photos)
 March for Women's Lives Records. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University

Category:2004 in Washington, D.C.
Category:2004 protests
Category:April 2004 events in the United States
Category:Abortion-rights movement
Category:Protest marches in Washington, D.C.
Category:History of women's rights in the United States
Category:Feminism and health
Category:Feminist protests
Category:Women in Washington, D.C.
Category:2004 in women's history
Category:Women's marches in the United States hi