March for Women's Lives
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The March for Women's Lives, held April 25, 2004, was perhaps the largest protest ever held on the Mall in Washington, D.C.. It was in favor of abortion rights and against George W. Bush. March organizers claimed 1.15 million people attended; other estimates put it at more than 800,000. Either number would make it the largest protest in United States history.
A rally on the Mall began at 10 a.m., and was followed by a march through the heart of downtown Washington, with a route along Pennsylvania Avenue. Notable celebrities who appeared at the march included Peter, Paul and Mary and Ashley Judd; also appearing were veteran women's rights leaders, such as Kate Michelman of NARAL and Gloria Steinem. Sponsoring organizations included NARAL, Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Organization for Women, and Black Women's Health Imperative.
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The marchers were met by several thousand counterprotesters, who were against abortion rights. They dressed in black, and were often marked by a strongly religious theme.