As the massive anti-abortion March for Life took place in the nation’s capital Friday, nearly 150 congressmen sent a letter to President Donald Trump praising his incredibly open support for the event.
GOP Rep. Robert Pittenger, who led the letter effort and took part in the 44th annual march, spoke with The Daily Caller News Foundation about the size of the crowd and the exuberant atmosphere among participants, which stands in distinct contrast to the gloomy mood of the Women’s March in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 21.
“There’s great music, enthusiasm, happy people … the most positive atmosphere,” Pittenger said.
“There’s so much more we can do because of this president,” he added.
In the letter, Pittenger and other congressmen noted that a Republican-dominated Congress working together with a Republican president could make major progress “to protect our most vulnerable from the brutal act of abortion.”
The legislators also urged for Trump to follow through on promises to nominate pro-life justices to the U.S. Supreme Court, end late-term abortions and defund Planned Parenthood. Congress has been close to succeeding on pro-life agenda items, but former President Barack Obama, who falls in the pro-choice camp, opposed legislators at every turn and in the past has vetoed efforts to block funding for Planned Parenthood.
Speaking to TheDCNF from the march, Pittenger said that the spirit at the March for Life was incredibly exuberant, in contrast to the Women’s March last week which had a much darker tone.
“These are happy people singing all the time. You sure didn’t see any signs you’d been embarrassed by and not for children to see.”
The Trump administration has been overt in its support of the march. On Friday morning, Trump tweeted out, “The #MarchForLife is so important. To all of you marching — you have my full support!”
Vice President Mike Pence, known for his advocacy of socially conservative policies, also attended the march along with his wife and daughter and delivered a speech in which he pledged to remove federal funding for Planned Parenthood and work with Congress to carry that mission out.
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