Until 8 p.m. includes Twin Cities area

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Abortion opponents gathered outside the State Capitol Friday for an annual political event.

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life held the rally, as it does each year on Jan. 22, to mark the anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion. 


During a brief speech, Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty urged the crowd to promote and celebrate a culture of life.

"As we are advocates -- and we need to be strong advocates and unflinching advocates -- we need to do that in a loving way," said Pawlenty. "Because when we change hearts and minds, the laws and the legislatures and the courts will follow."


Congresswoman Michele Bachmann was greeted by loud applause when she declared that the pro-abortion majority in Washington is crumbling.

"The out-of-touch, arrogant people who now control this nation are not listening to the pro-life majority in the United States," Bachmann said. "They are hell-bent on promoting abortion as a viable means of birth control. Does this make sense?"

 
This year's march took place without the backdrop of a legislative session, which doesn't begin until Feb. 4. 


Abortion rights advocates were also at the Capitol. A spokesman for Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota said his organization was busy preventing unintended pregnancies and providing health care services.

Gallery

Politics and Government News

Social Issues

Tim Pugmire

Author

Abortion opponents held their annual rally outside the Capitol Friday, to mark the anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision which legalized abortion.

Abortion opponents hold annual Capitol rally

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox