March for Women's Lives (2004)

Marchers on the National Mall
Demonstrators at the march
Hillary Clinton at the march
Counter-protestors outside a Planned Parenthood clinic

The March for Women's Lives was a protest demonstration held on April 25, 2004 at the National Mall in Washington, D. C. There was approximately 1.3 million participants.[1] 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.[2] The march was intended to address topics such as abortion rights, reproductive health care, women's rights, and others.[2][3] Originally named the March for Freedom, the march was renamed in an effort to expand the message of "pro-choice" to include the right to have children, access to pre and post natal care, as well as sex education that were not always accessible for women of color. [4]

The Women's March was notable for its inclusivity and diversity, with participants from all walks of life, ages, races, genders, and sexual orientations coming together to advocate for progressive causes. The event featured speeches and performances by a range of prominent figures, including celebrities, politicians, and activists.

While the Women's March was criticized by some for its lack of a clear agenda or policy platform, its organizers argued that its primary goal was to show support for the rights and dignity of all people, regardless of their background or identity. The march was seen as a powerful symbol of resistance and unity in the face of what many saw as a threat to progress and equality.[5]

  1. ^ "March For Women's Lives: Up to a Million Descend on DC in One of the Largest Protests in U.S. History". Democracy Now!. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  2. ^ a b "Flashback: Over One Million March for Women's Lives | National Organization for Women". now.org. 25 April 2014. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  3. ^ "History of Marches and Mass Actions". 2007-09-27. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  4. ^ "Collection: Records of the March for Women's Lives, 1988–2004 (inclusive), 2003–2004 (bulk) | HOLLIS for". hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  5. ^ "Criticism".