'March for Life' scheduled for Jan. 25

Thousands of abortion-rights opponents will descend on Washington, D.C., in late January for the annual "March for Life" rally.

The event is one of Washington's largest annual protests and the most prominent anti-abortion march in the United States. It began in 1974, the year after the Supreme Court established abortion rights in Roe v. Wade.

This year's march is expected to draw strong crowds given that 2013 marks Roe's 40th anniversary. It is scheduled for Jan. 25, just a few days after President Obama's second inauguration.

About 250,000 people attend in a given year, according to reports, including religious leaders and members of Congress.

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) addressed the crowds in 2012.

Each touted the House's efforts to end federal funds for Planned Parenthood as a healthcare provider for low-income women.

"We come today to stand together and voice our belief that innocent life is precious, and the taking of life morally wrong," Cantor said last year. "Our dollars should never be used to take life. It is time to protect conscience rights for those who oppose abortion."

Federal law prohibits taxpayer dollars from supporting abortions. But opponents of Planned Parenthood say any payment to the group subsidizes its abortion services.

The 2012 march began with a rally on the National Mall, near the Smithsonian Castle, and ended in front of the Supreme Court.

The event closed major sections of Constitution and Independence Avenues, as well as streets around D.C.'s Verizon Center, where a prayer vigil was held.

Organizers lamented Thursday that this year's march will not include the event's founder, Nellie Gray, who died in August.

"The March for Life is a demonstration of unity that we need to continue the fight to win over the hearts and minds of all Americans," said Jeanne Monahan, President of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, in a statement. 

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