Thousands of anti-abortion advocates gathered Friday for the annual National March for Life, marking the first high-profile event for the empowered GOP and Trump administration.

Despite the frigid weather in the nation’s capital, energy was high among the crowd, with thousands having traveled from across the country.

People who attended the March for Life, held every year since 1974, ranged widely in age. Children and college students were in abundance, with one attendee remarking with surprise at the number of young people who showed up.

Tiffany Hayward of Pennsylvania told The Hill she came to “save the babies, save a life,” adding that she hoped the event would allow “for people to have their hearts and minds opened to [the] understanding of babies are important too. They should have a say.”

Many in the crowd, which gathered in front of a stage in the shadow of Washington Monument, wore beanies to stay warm, using the hats to color code their groups by schools, regional or social organizations.

“I want to help further the movement towards life and love and both the mom and the baby,” said Katie Hilderman of Missouri, who was attending for the first time. “If we want America to continue, we have to keep having babies. We got to keep our babies.”

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