Pro-Choice Citizen-Activists, Members of Congress Rally on the Mall!

If anyone had any doubt that America's pro-choice majority is fired up and ready to STOP the War on Women, then they should have seen what I just saw on the National Mall.

Thousands of citizen activists in purple and pink t-shirts gathered in front of the U.S. Capitol, and rallied against the extreme, anti-woman agenda brewing in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, gave a boisterous speech. She fired up a crowd that had traveled from all over the country to be here, and sent John Boehner and his anti-choice cohorts a strong message. We, the people, have had enough of the bait-and-switch that puts attacks on women's freedom and privacy ahead of creating jobs and growing the economy.

Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, spoke out against the attacks on community-health clinics that many American women rely on as their sole provider of health care.

Top pro-choice members of Congress rallied the troops. Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York, Barbara Boxer of California, Patty Murray of Washington, and Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey promised that the pro-choice leadership in the U.S. Senate would STOP the War on Women.

Sen. Schumer said the Senate would never, never, never accept eliminating funding for Planned Parenthood and the Title X program. Then, he said it again, just to make sure folks far and wide could hear him.

Some of our strongest pro-choice champions in the House spoke. Reps. Diana DeGette of Colorado, Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, and Louise Slaughter of New York promised that they would never stop fighting attacks on women's health.

Pro-choice activists from the entertainment community spoke out too. Amy Madigan and Ed Harris stood up with their teenage daughter, Lily, and made it clear that they were fighting for her rights.

David Eigenberg (Steve from "Sex and the City") and Connie Britton (of "Friday Night Lights" fame) said the attacks on women's health care were attacks on us, and our sisters, daughters, wives, mothers and partners.

Leading coalition partners voiced their support. Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, and Wade Henderson, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Humans Rights, made it clear that an attack on a woman's right to choose is an attack on human rights. Period.

Bravo to them, and to all the pro-choice Americans who came out to show their strength. They're back in the congressional office buildings now, making sure their representatives get the message: STOP the War on Women.