The anti-abortion March for Life returns to D.C. on Friday, the first such mass gathering of pro-life advocates since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June.

A crowd that could number in the tens of thousands is expected to rally on the National Mall starting at 11 a.m., before setting off at 1 p.m. for a march that will end in front of the Supreme Court. The march route is purposely different than in years past, according to organizers.

“In order to mark not only our victory in Dobbs but also our need to maintain a presence in Washington, this year’s March for Life will have a slightly different marching route than in years past. This year we will also march past the Capitol and finish between the Capitol and Supreme Court. We will give witness to the inherent dignity of the human person to pro-life and pro-abortion legislators alike, helping them understand that we will not cease advocating for women and children until every life is protected,” wrote the group on its website.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, the following roads will be closed to vehicles. For more traffic information, visit the D.C. police page or check D.C. Police Traffic’s Twitter. 

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

According to a permit application submitted to the National Park Service, organizers expect some 50,000 people to attend the march. That’s similar to past years.

The Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned the Roe decision — which would have turned 50 years old on Sunday — upended the legal status of abortion across the country, even in the otherwise pro-choice Washington region.

In D.C., city officials and advocates worry that the new Republican-led House could move to ban abortions. And in Virginia, Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill supported by Gov. Glenn Youngkin that would impose a ban on abortions after 15 weeks. That and any related measures are likely to face opposition in the Democratic-led Virginia Senate, though they could also the commonwealth’s 2023 elections, when members of the General Assembly will face voters.

Maryland is fully controlled by Democrats, and seen as a state where abortion rights are most protected. A push to enshrine those protections in the state constitution failed in 2022, but is expected to be debated during the legislative session that is currently taking place in Annapolis.

This story has been updated to include road closures for the March for Life.