WASHINGTON, D.C. (WENY News) -- Thousands of pro-lifers from across the country marched on the National Mall Friday. For 52 years, the March for Life has collectively united pro-life Americans from all different ages and backgrounds. 

“It’s always so exciting and inspiring to be around so many people who want to come together and just really, really support life and be a powerful voice in the capital,” said Mary Briganti, the Director of Leadership Initiatives at Students for Life, which serves over 1,500 student groups across the country. 

“We encourage our students to be involved in all forms of activism. We encourage them to come out, especially at something like the March for Life. Today, we’re actually really pushing to just bring the message that we need to defund Planned Parenthood,” said Briganti. 

The march began in 1974 in response to Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide. Even though the landmark decision was overturned nearly three years ago, pro-lifers say the work is not finished. 

“There’s still a lot to be done,” said Tim Broderick, the Executive Director of People for Life in Erie, PA. 

The Dobbs decision overturning Roe in June 2022 was a win for Tim Broderick, who’s been attending the march since 1996.

“That was the outrage of Roe v Wade. It just took it away from the people and their elected state representatives in all 50 states,” said Broderick. 

According to 2024 data from the Pew Research Center, 63% of American adults say abortion should be legal in all or most cases. 36% say it should be illegal in all or most cases. 

“I think there's also a lot of middle ground areas of agreement,” said Broderick. 

In the nearly three years since the Dobbs decision, pro-life advocates have fought against what they call “pro-abortion legislation” at both the state and federal level, while also advocating for pro-life policies. 

For some pro-lifers, that includes fighting for pregnancy resource centers. 

“They do wonderful work. I know that our local women's care center does just heroic work for women in need,” said Dr. Jeffrey McGovern, a staff physician at AHN Saint Vincent Hospital in Erie, PA and a member of the Catholic Medical Association. “It’s important to know that there's not just one choice, there’s many choices.” 

Lawmakers and leaders including Vice President JD Vance, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R- SD) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R- LA) spoke at today’s march, which concluded outside the Supreme Court.