Students Head to D.C. For Anti-Abortion March

Thirty-five Harvard students boarded buses bound for today's Rally for Life in Washington, D.C. yesterday, hopeful that their protest will strengthen the national antiabortion movement.

Event organizers said they estimate approximately 500,000 participants at the rally and hope it will have a festive tone.

"This is not a counter-rally. As far as I am aware it is a gathering of people that consider themselves prolife. It is not a rally of anger. I'm going to show my support for human rights," said Julie L. Whitman '93, co-chair of The Harvard-Radcliffe Progressive Alliance for Life.

"We approach the issue from a position of care and concern for women," said Whitman, adding that she "would like to see parental issues addressed. Society is not very receptive to unwed mothers."

Whitman said that the three percent of abortion cases that stem from rape and incest do not justify allowing abortions for the other 97 percent.

The media plays down the attendance at anti-abortion rallies, she said. "Pro-life gathering numbers are always reduced. The cut them in half, I'd like to see a fair count this year."

Rally organizers bill the event as a celebration with a "festive spirit." They also called it a celebration of family and traditional values.

National Right to Life D.C. spokesperson Michele P. Arocha said "This is going to be the largest right to life rally ever."

The rally will feature a song from 700 Club co-host Sheila Walsh and a morning of "family entertainment."-Politicians will also be at the rally Vice President Dan Quayle will give a speech and President George Bush will deliver a telephone address.

Arocha said that the committee has been encouraged by the sale of 35,000 special subway and bus tickets sold for the event.