Roe v. Wade anniversary marked by vigils, demonstrations

Anti-abortion activists held a rally on the National Mall and marched to the Supreme Court, followed by a walk to Capitol Hill to urge legislative action.

An annual March for Life has been held in Washington since 1974.

"We want to change people's hearts and minds and help them to know that abortion ... is not necessary and really undermines the rights of women," U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops spokeswoman Deirdre McQuade told CNN.

"We're working toward the day when abortion will not only be illegal but unthinkable."

Abortion rights supporters, led in part by the National Organization for Women, planned their own rally and vigil on the steps of the high court.

"A fetus is not a life, sorry," NOW President Terry O'Neill told CNN. "And no, nobody's religious conviction justifies taking women's ability to shape their own futures away from them."