US anti-abortion activists seek to make gains under Trump

The 44th annual anti-abortion march, billed as the world’s largest “pro-life” rally, is also expected to draw participants from all corners of the country exactly one week after Trump’s inauguration.

The Republican president predicted its turnout would be larger than the women’s march in Washington the previous week. “They’ll have 300, 400, 500, 600,000 people,” he told Republican lawmakers on Thursday.

“You won’t even read about it,” he added, taking a swipe at the mainstream news media that he routinely accuses of bias.

“A lot of people are expecting it to be the largest March for Life in a long time,” said Chris Gast, communications director for Right to Life of Michigan.

The city of Grand Rapids alone plans to send 12 busloads of people to Washington, he said.

The march will take place days after the 44th anniversary of Roe v Wade, the landmark US Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in 1973.

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Trump has already cheered abortion foes just days into his presidency. On Monday, he signed a decree barring US federal funding for foreign NGOs that support abortion.

Next Thursday, he is expected to announce his choice to fill an empty seat on the Supreme Court, a nominee who’s widely expected to staunchly oppose abortion rights.

Featured speakers at Friday’s event include Vice President Mike Pence and Trump’s influential senior aide Kellyanne Conway.

The mother of four with a Catholic background will share the stage with Republican lawmakers, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan and other religious leaders.

The march will end at the Capitol — where Republicans hold the majority in both chambers — but the activists’ focus will be on the building opposite Congress: the Supreme Court.