Road closures and what to expect – NBC4 Washington

Thousands of anti-abortion activists are expected in Washington Friday for the annual March for Life, seeking to build momentum after a string of victories and maintain pressure on legislators. After decades of fighting to overturn Roe v. Wade, organizers are seeking to focus on the multiple state-by-state battles taking place over abortion rights.

On the eve of the march, President Donald Trump announced he pardoned anti-abortion activists convicted of blockading abortion clinic entrances.

Trump called it “a great honor to sign this.”

“They should not have been prosecuted,” he said as he signed pardons for “peaceful pro-life protesters.”

The people pardoned were involved in the October 2020 invasion and blockade of a D.C. clinic.

Lauren Handy was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for leading the blockade by directing blockaders to link themselves together with locks and chains to block the clinic’s doors. A nurse sprained her ankle when one person pushed her while entering the clinic, and a woman was accosted by another blockader while having labor pains, prosecutors said. Police found five fetuses in Handy’s D.C. home after she was indicted.

The president is expected to address the March for Life crowd in a video. Here’s what to know:

What’s the expected turnout?

Organizers have estimated around 150,000 marchers — and previous years in the March for Life’s 52-year history have certainly drawn those kinds of numbers. But the turnout may be limited by continued harsh winter weather that already forced Trump’s inauguration indoors Monday. Attendance may also be impacted by a natural relaxation among abortion opponents after the historic June 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade — which had guaranteed a nationwide right to abortion.

What’s the post-Roe v. Wade focus?

Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, organizers and activists are focusing on the multiple state-level battles over abortion rights. As in the past, the march will start with a rally on the National Mall and end in the space separating the Capitol building from the Supreme Court. For decades, the protesters’ focus was on the courthouse, but now the main target is the domed complex across the street.

Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, said there is still work to be done, despite the Supreme Court decision. “There’s no silver bullet to ending abortion,” she said. “The march now ends on the backside of the U.S. Capitol to remind our representatives that abortion is not only a state issue, but also a local issue and also a federal issue.”

Looking forward, Hawkins added that she would like to see Trump defund Planned Parenthood and put more government focus on making sure women with unplanned pregnancies have the resources to have the child, such as paid family leave and expanded child tax care credits.

Where does the Trump administration stand?

Trump disappointed some hardcore abortion advocates in the campaign last year by refusing to back the idea of a federal abortion ban and opposing some of the harsher state-level bans. But Trump has claimed credit for the fall of Roe v. Wade since his three Supreme Court nominees in his first term swung the balance.

This should be a victory lap for Trump, who was out of office by the time Roe v. Wade was overturned. He’ll be out of town but is expected to address the rally via prerecorded video message, and Vice President JD Vance will be a featured speaker. Among his flurry of initial actions and orders this week, Trump on Thursday pardoned several activists who had been jailed for blockading a Washington abortion provider.

“This is a significant moment in history,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national anti-abortion group SBA Pro-Life America. “Yes, we have a march every year, but this one is pretty special. We have just been through the first presidential election since the Dobbs decision. There is a trifecta of pro-life Republicans in the White House and the House and the Senate.”

Schools, houses of worship and hospitals are adjusting to a major change in homeland security policy. They will no longer be considered protected spaces when it comes to immigration enforcement. News4’s Julie Carey reports. 

Road closures and emergency no parking

Here’s what D.C. police said about road closures.

The following streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.:

• Constitution Avenue from 18^th Street to 3^rd Street, NW
• Pennsylvania Avenue from 7^th Street to 3^rd Street, NW
• 17^th Street from New York Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 15^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 14^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 12^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Madison Drive, NW
• 10^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 9^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 7^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 6^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 4^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 3^rd Street from Indiana Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• Madison Drive from 14^th Street to 7^th Street, NW
• Jefferson Drive from 14^th Street to 7^th Street, SW

The following streets will be closed to vehicular traffic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.:

• Constitution Avenue from 18^th Street to 3^rd Street, NE
• Pennsylvania Avenue from 7^th Street, NW to 3^rd Street, NW
• 17^th Street from New York Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 15^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 14^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 12^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Madison Drive, NW
• 12^th Street Tunnel
• 10^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 9^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 9^th Street Tunnel
• 7^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 6^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 4^th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 3^rd Street from Indiana Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• Madison Drive from 14^th Street to 7^th Street, NW
• Jefferson Drive from 14^th Street to 7^th Street, SW
• Independence Avenue, SW from 4^th Street, SW to 2^nd Street, SE

For timely traffic information, please visit twitter.com/DCPoliceTraffic.