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The Des Moines Register - Politicians Join Anti-Abortion Rally in Des Moines

News Article

Date: Jan. 17, 2015
Issues: Abortion

By Linh Ta

When Robert Rees was in high school, he said he was initially pro-choice and believed people could make their own decisions about pregnancies.

After watching a video of an ultrasound performed during an abortion while in school, his perspective changed. So much so that he shared his changed beliefs with a crowd of hundreds Saturday outside the Iowa Capitol.

"It made me realize the unborn child is alive," said Rees, a radio talk show host in Des Moines and a contributer to TheBlaze, an independent news and entertainment television network and website.

The third annual Midwest March for Life event took place Saturday morning to commemorate the 1973 Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision. The march, sponsored by Iowa Right to Life, went from the Statehouse to the courthouse with the aim of showing disapproval of legalized abortion.

Outside the Capitol, hundreds of people shouting "life" gathered, including Gov. Terry Branstad, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley and U.S. Rep. David Young.

"Thank God, he allows us to live in a country where we can assemble freely," Young said.

Sheryl Schwager of Iowa City attended the rally Saturday. She said she felt it was important to make a physical presence.

"We want to be unified with all of the other pro-life people in Iowa," Schwager said. "My body here is going to make a bigger input on the Legislature."

And while anti-abortion supporters have been fighting against abortion for decades, Grassley said the changes are slowly seeping into legislation.

"It seems like victory isn't moving fast enough, but it's moving toward it slowly," Grassley said.

Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, a health care provider that performs abortions, did not return a phone call seeking comment about the rally Saturday.

For Young, the fight against abortion is a biblical matter, and he ended his remarks reinforcing that belief. "This is the day the Lord hath made," Young said. "Let us rejoice and be glad in it."


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