50,000 March in Protest of 1973 Abortion Decision

An estimated 50,000 people demonstrated Friday against abortions on the 15th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision legalizing the procedure, and they cheered President Reagan’s declaration that all human life is sacred.

The demonstrators, bearing banners and signs, including one that proclaimed “if abortions don’t stop, our future will,” marched through the city, moving from the Ellipse near the White House to the Supreme Court building.

Court spokeswoman Toni House said 35 demonstrators were arrested after crossing a police line at the edge of the building’s sprawling plaza. They were arrested as they prayed, and some had to be carried off when they refused to walk with the police who arrested them.

‘Sacrificial Symbolism’

The National Right to Life Committee and sponsors of the March for Life said they do not condone civil disobedience. But other anti-abortion organizations urged marchers to participate in “sacrificial symbolism.”

The march was the latest in a series of annual demonstrations here against the court’s Jan. 22, 1973, abortion decision in the case of Roe vs. Wade. Tim Foote, a U.S. Park Police officer, estimated the crowd Friday at 50,000.

This time, leaders of the demonstration said they will focus on the November elections, working for candidates who would follow Reagan’s lead in opposing abortions.

Reagan and other speakers promised to fight to end federal financing of abortions.

“America was founded on a moral proposition that human life, all human life, is sacred,” Reagan said in a telephone hookup to the rally.

“We’re told about a woman’s right to control her own body, but doesn’t an unborn child have a higher right, and that is to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Reagan said. “Are we to forget the entire moral mission of our country through history? Well, my answer is no.”

The President received applause when he asked for support for a “pro-life bill” that stops all federal funding of abortions. He also drew cheers when he urged backing of proposed regulations that would cut off federal family planning money from agencies linked to performing abortions or providing abortion counseling.

Sees Harm to Effort

Planned Parenthood said in a statement that the proposed regulations would harm the family planning effort.

At a news conference, several members of the National Right to Life Committee said they had asked how the presidential candidates stood on abortion. They said five candidates--Republicans Pat Robertson, Vice President George Bush, Kansas Sen. Bob Dole, Pierre S. (Pete) du Pont IV and New York Rep. Jack Kemp--support reversal of the Roe vs. Wade decision, which made most abortions legal.

Sandra Faucher, director of the organization’s political action committee, said her group does not plan to endorse any of the candidates who oppose abortions but would work for any of the five if one of them wins the GOP nomination.