2008 Woodie Awards
Posted 11am April 29
by Adela Maskova
U-WIRE Washington Bureau
The March for Women's Lives drew more than a million people from all over the nation on April 25 according to organizers who marked it as the largest march in U.S. history. Organizers stressed the importance of voting, hoping to translate the strength in numbers before them into votes in the upcoming election.
"If all we do is march today that will not change the direction this country is heading under this administration," said Senator Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., one of the guest speakers. The last large abortion rights march on Washington gathered on April 1992, shortly before Bill Clinton, a pro-choice president, was elected.
Sunday's march began around noon and by 3:30 p.m. the long stream of people was still winding along Pennsylvania Avenue and emptying into the Mall.
Signs like "I'm a woman -- watch me vote" and "My body, my choice, my right" floated above the sea of marchers, a crowd that crossed generations.
Laura Lee Kent, 53, from Massachusetts contrasted the event to the 1992 march. "There were a lot more people this time, and a lot more men."
Kent also said that there was more emphasis on getting out to the voting booths and that the issue of gay-marriage rang new. "I don't think anybody was even thinking about that then," Kent said.
The list of speakers was like flipping through the sections of a newspaper, including personalities from the arts, business and politics. Among others, Whoopi Goldberg, Gloria Steinem, Ted Turner, and Madeline K. Albright attended.
Protestors objected to Bush administration policies that they saw as chipping away at the 1973 Roe v. Wade court decision that legalized abortion.
"They're starting to slowly take away choices when it comes to reproductive rights," said Sara Connarley, a Clark University student. "I'm afraid this slow process won't be noticed and we'll wake up and not have any choices at all."
by Adela Maskova
U-WIRE Washington Bureau
The March for Women's Lives drew more than a million people from all over the nation on April 25 according to organizers who marked it as the largest march in U.S. history. Organizers stressed the importance of voting, hoping to translate the strength in numbers before them into votes in the upcoming election.
"If all we do is march today that will not change the direction this country is heading under this administration," said Senator Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., one of the guest speakers. The last large abortion rights march on Washington gathered on April 1992, shortly before Bill Clinton, a pro-choice president, was elected.
Sunday's march began around noon and by 3:30 p.m. the long stream of people was still winding along Pennsylvania Avenue and emptying into the Mall.
Signs like "I'm a woman -- watch me vote" and "My body, my choice, my right" floated above the sea of marchers, a crowd that crossed generations.
Laura Lee Kent, 53, from Massachusetts contrasted the event to the 1992 march. "There were a lot more people this time, and a lot more men."
Kent also said that there was more emphasis on getting out to the voting booths and that the issue of gay-marriage rang new. "I don't think anybody was even thinking about that then," Kent said.
The list of speakers was like flipping through the sections of a newspaper, including personalities from the arts, business and politics. Among others, Whoopi Goldberg, Gloria Steinem, Ted Turner, and Madeline K. Albright attended.
Protestors objected to Bush administration policies that they saw as chipping away at the 1973 Roe v. Wade court decision that legalized abortion.
"They're starting to slowly take away choices when it comes to reproductive rights," said Sara Connarley, a Clark University student. "I'm afraid this slow process won't be noticed and we'll wake up and not have any choices at all."
