sandi villarreal

Even before moving to Chicago's North Side last fall, Jennie Kuckertz knew that she wanted to join Loyola University's Right to Life organization. She is now vice president of the group and is taking her anti-abortion activism to Washington, D.C., this weekend for the annual March for Life This year marks the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

A crowd gathers at the 2007 March for Life. This is the fifth year the Archdiocese of Chicago has taken a group to the march. Photo courtesy of Deacon Marcelino Hernandez/Archdiocese of Chicago

"I think that sometimes young people are scared to speak out about what they believe in," said Kuckertz, who is from south suburban Clarendon Hills. "I feel like [the march] is really a good opportunity to meet people my age and for people to speak out when they normally wouldn’t in their [everyday] environment."

Kuckertz, 19, is one of about 200 Chicago students who will board buses Saturday for the 14-hour drive to spend four days in the capitol.

Organizer Alicia Torres, on the staff of Chicago Archdiocese's Respect Life Office, said the trip's main goals are to teach students the "historical groundwork of the pro-life movement," and "really motivate the students to be active when they get back to Chicago."

The march is scheduled for Tuesday, but the group will participate in other activities over their four days in Washington. Torres, who has made the trip nine times, said the group and about 5,000 other people will attend a Mass for Life at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Monday.

"It's amazing," Torres said. describing the sight of people sitting on the floor of the church's aisles as priests distribute Communion. The scene evokes for her the image of Christ feeding the 5,000.

Kuckertz said she is most looking forward to meeting other college students.

"I just love working with people my age with the same goals who want to make the change in our generation, because we’re the ones who are going to live to see [Roe v. Wade] overturned," she said.

Torres said one of the most moving activities being planned is a gathering at the Supreme Court building to hear women--including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s niece, Dr. Alveda King--speak about how experiencing abortions has changed their lives.

Many organizations on both sides of the abortion issues are planning special events across the nation to observe the anniversary.

Original article