Women’s Rights Backers Rally to Protest Violence

Women’s rights supporters rallied Sunday near the Capitol to protest “violence against women,” a phrase they applied not only to rape and battering, but also to political assaults on welfare spending, abortion and affirmative action.

“As women have been able to take some small measure of power, we’re facing a fierce backlash,” Patricia Ireland, president of the National Organization for Women, told the crowd.

Thousands of people spread across the National Mall for the five-hour rally, organized by NOW and endorsed by more than 700 groups, including abortion-rights supporters, labor unions, civil rights groups, gay and lesbian organizations, environmentalists, socialists, victims’ rights advocates and welfare recipients.

The U.S. Park Police, using helicopters, counted 50,000 people at the “Rally for Women’s Lives,” which focused heavily on the agendas of conservative politicians.

Speakers voiced fears that Congress would curtail abortion rights, cut spending on welfare programs for women and children, dismantle affirmative action programs and cut funding for prevention of domestic violence and for aiding its victims.