March for Life 2016: Thousands Attend Anti-Abortion Movement in Chicago

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The "March for Life" 2016 has gathered thousands of people in downtown Chicago despite the biting cold temperature. The temperature is reported to go down at least -18 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

According to Reuters, the Chicago march consists of demonstrators that condemn abortion that is legalized nationwide by the United States Supreme Court since 43 years ago. Rosary beads are passed around by organizers while demonstrators hold yellow-colored balloons that have "life" printed on them. Meanwhile, other demonstrators dance to some music to keep themselves warm in the bitter cold of that day.

"This is about the soul of our nation that we gathered here today," Archbishop Blase Cupich, of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, said. "As we bundle up in the cold today, we want to make sure the children are also born into a world that warmly welcomes them, " he further added.

Friynds also reports that the crowd has reached a number of about 5,000. During the event, speakers like Corey Brooks, a black Chicago church pastor who is politically active, and Wilfredo De Jesus, a famous Hispanic pastor of the evangelical New Life Covenant Church, delivered their stand regarding abortion.

"This is a leading cause of death for African-Americans," Brooks has revealed in his speech as he wanted to take the fight to the African-American community against abortion.

There are several states in the U.S. that imposed recent restrictions on abortion these past few years. These lead to challenges in court, as Reuters also noted in the report. It is in the year 2007 that the U.S. Supreme Court acts on the first abortion case, which is said to have the intention of limiting abortion cases in Texas, by imposing restrictions on physicians and clinical practices.

In addition to this, the pro-life issue against abortion has received attention in a national scale in 2015 due to attempts done by Republican legislators to cut the Planned Parenthood funds that provide women health services that include abortion.

This issue leads to others to think that social justice regarding this matter is very important to people. Reuters also added that the Chicago march on Sunday has offered a Midwest alternative for those people who were unable to attend the larger march every Jan. 22 that is held in Washington, D.C., and the president of "March for Life Chicago," Emily Zender, added that this march is now in its third year.