For the first time ever, avatars will join the tens of thousands of pro-life Americans on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for the March for Life rally.

Americans United for Life is offering pro-life Americans who cannot make it to Washington, D.C., on Friday the opportunity to still be part of the march through their own avatar in a Virtual March for Life. Virtual marchers can locate their avatars among the thousands of icons on the National Mall by typing in their e-mail address.

As of Tuesday morning, more than 22,000 Americans have already joined the march online.

“[C]hoose an avatar for yourself and then we will place ‘you’ in front of the U.S. Capitol building alongside other Americans online,” explained Charmaine Yoest, CEO and president of AUL, in an e-mail newsletter. “Please stand and be counted among those who are marching for life and please ask everyone you know that doesn’t want their tax dollars to fund abortion to join us at VirtualMarchforLife.com now.”

AUL is encouraging pro-lifers to participate in the March for Life rally, either in person or virtually, to put pressure on members of Congress who are currently debating a health care reform bill that could allow federal dollars to pay for abortions.

“In this critical moment, every American must be heard regardless of where you are,” wrote the pro-life leader. “Hundreds of thousands of Americans are coming to Washington, D.C. to join the most important March for Life in history, and you can be there through the Virtual March for Life!”

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The March for Life rally on the National Mall occurs each year on the anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision, which legalized abortion. The goal of the annual Jan. 22 march is to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision. This Friday’s march will be the 36th March for Life and is expected to have large-scale participation because of the health care debate.

“So much is at stake in this moment. How many more lives will be lost if the Congressional majority rolls back existing law that protects life and protects us from having our tax dollars used to fund abortion?” Yoest posed.

On the Web: www.virtualmarchforlife.com