More than 20,000 people of all ages gathered Thursday in the streets of Ottawa to spread pro-life messages and march for anti-abortion laws.

The annual rally, the March For Life, drew passionate outbursts from those who attended, as the march wound its way through downtown Ottawa.

The annual event marks the day, 43-years-ago in 1969, when Parliament first legalized abortion under certain circumstances.

Emotions ran high, especially when the march moved past a pro-choice group that had set up along the path.

One woman, Vanessa, is pro-life and held a picture of a fetus while describing her argument with the pro-choice supporters.

“They don’t respect human rights, a lot of them come from that background so I’m shocked that they are being very hypocritical and not standing up for the rights of the unborn,” Vanessa said.

While a barricade was set up between the groups, it didn’t stop pro-life supporters from waving crucifixes at the pro-choice supporters, who threw condoms in response.

Chantelle, meanwhile, told 680News she was there to have her voice heard.

“I’m a woman, I’m pro-choice, I believe a woman should have agency over her own body and nobody should be able to take that away,” Chantelle said.

Some of those with the pro-life group countered this point.

“With the advances in science now, with ultrasound and imaging, you can view the child in the womb,” said Chris, visiting from the Toronto-area. “To say it’s not a human being until it’s born is completely archaic.”

Many of the pro-life supporters carried signs that said things like “justice for the unborn,” and “defend life.”

Both sides admitted that a motion at the House of Commons to undertake a study on the definition of human life had stirred up the passions of everyone involved.