March for Life: What to know for Friday's march in DC

The 44th annual March for Life happens this Friday, January 27, in the nation's capital. The pro-life march will take place less than a week after hundreds of thousands of people packed the National Mall for the Women's March on Washington.

The March for Life, a rally protesting abortion, takes place every year in DC on or around the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to legalize abortion (Roe v. Wade). The theme of the 2017 march is "The Power of One."

Below is about the event, and details you should know if you plan to attend:

When and where is the March for Life held?

The March for Life will take place on Friday, January 27 in Washington, DC, on the grounds of the Washington Monument near the corner of 15th Street NW and Constitution Avenue. The event begins with a musical opening at 11:45 am, and the rally starts at 12 pm.

The march will begin after the rally, at approximately 1 pm on Constitution Avenue between 15th and 17th Streets NW. The march will end in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building.

Here's a map showing the route and other points of interest for the event (app users, click here to view):

If you're going, click here for a printable version of the map.

What is the March for Life all about?

The march is organized by the March for Life Education and Defense Fund. The overall goal of the march is to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision and reduce access to the procedure, according to the event's official website.

How many people are expected to attend?

More than 5,000 people have said they are attending on the march's official Facebook event page, and over 100,000 people have expressed interest in the event.

Do I need a ticket for the event?

No tickets are required, but you can click here to RSVP on the March for Life's official website.

What's the best way to get there?

If you're attending the march, Metro is your best bet. WMATA suggests that participants make their way to the event outside of traditional rush-hour periods, if possible, to avoid crowds. Rush hour lasts from 5 am through 9:30 am, and from 3-7 pm.

On Monday, Metro announced they will run additional eight-car trains to accommodate event participants. There is also no track work scheduled during the time that march participants will be traveling. Metro says trains will be running every two to four minutes in the downtown stations on Friday.

Additional parking, bus and hotel information can be found by clicking here.

Who will be speaking at the event?

Confirmed speakers for the 2017 March for Life include:

How do I get in, and is there security?

The event venue opens to the public at 9 a.m. on Friday, January 27. Entrance is on the Washington Monument grounds, directly across from the entrance to the Ellipse (on Constitution Avenue NW between 15th Street NW and 17th Street NW).

For security purposes, the area will be fenced; to gain access to the event area, participants will be required to pass through a magnetometer screening conducted by the United States Secret Service. Please allow additional time for the security screening, as it is expected that lines may be long.

What can't I bring?

The following items will be prohibited within the secure area at the rally:

Aerosols
Ammunition
Animals other than service/guide animals
Backpacks and bags exceeding size restrictions (18" by 13" by 7")
Bicycles
Balloons
Coolers
Drones and other unmanned aircraft systems
Explosives
Firearms
Glass, thermal, or metal containers
Laser pointers
Mace/pepper spray
Packages
Selfie sticks
Signs exceeding the size restrictions (20' x 3' x 1/4")
Structures
Supports for signs and placards
Toy guns
Weapons of any kind
Any other items determined to be potential safety hazards

If I can't go, how can I help?

If you can't attend the march, you can still support the cause. Click here to find out more about how to get involved or make a donation.

Event coverage from FOX 5 DC

FOX 5 DC will have continuous coverage of the March for Life on fox5dc.com, our FOX 5 DC app and our FOX 5 DC Facebook page. Check back on Friday for more details.