“Protesters from California, Texas and the Carolinas plan to rally on the National Mall for women’s reproductive rights Sunday, joining marchers from Denmark, Germany and Kenya.”

“Activists from nearly 60 countries say they’ll attend the event, standing with their American counterparts not only in unity but to highlight the plight of women’s health abroad.”

“In our country, it’s so important to feel solidarity with the rest of the world on women’s rights,” said Helena Pinto, president of UMAR, an abortion rights group in Portugal, where legal abortion is limited.

As the list of sponsors, which includes the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, attests, abortion rights in the United States is the rallying point but not the only issue at stake for these protesters. Organizers have sought to broaden the gathering to include birth control, sex education and better health care for women worldwide.

“We believe it’s important to be that broad-based and diverse because the threats to reproductive rights are that broad-based and diverse,” said Gloria Feldt, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

The “March for Women’s Lives” is expected to bring an enormous crowd to the National Mall. The city has issued a permit for 750,000, and police anticipate the gathering will exceed the 500,000 estimated at a similar 1992 march.

Whatever their numbers, their makeup will likely be different than 12 years ago. Some from the international delegations have come to protest U.S. policies they say harm women abroad, particularly in developing countries.

In the park across from the White House on Saturday, dozens carrying flags of different countries gathered to hear speeches about the state of women’s reproductive health worldwide, including how the so-called “global gag-rule” has hurt family planning services. Under the rule, which President Bush reinstated when he took office, non-governmental organizations overseas that promote or perform abortions are ineligible for U.S funds.

“Since the global gag rule is affecting family planning worldwide, this is also our cause,” said Catherina Hinz of the German Foundation for World Population, based in Hanover.

The rally, said National Organization for Women President Kim Gandy, will “demonstrate that these policies are having an impact on women all over the world.”

The daylong event kicks off with a breakfast featuring Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

Protesters will march through downtown, then gather on the National Mall for an afternoon of speakers and events.

Anti-abortion groups were in action Saturday with protests outside at least three Washington clinics and activists plan to line part of Sunday’s march route in a counterprotest that organizers expect to draw about 1,500 people.

If you say so. To be honest, I didn’t bother reading the article.

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For Tony at Newzilla notes, and for Thom, who thinks I make too many sexual asides. Which of course I do, but he says it like it’s a bad thing…

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[update: more here. And here.]