SAN FRANCISCO — As tens of thousands of pro-lifers headed for the nation’s capital for the 32nd anniversary of the Jan. 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, as many stayed closer to home for statewide and local demonstrations. Rallies and marches took place in Little Rock, Ark.; Salina, Kan.; Birmingham, Ala; Atlanta; Columbia, S.C.; and Hartford, Conn.

In one of the newest demonstrations of many Americans’ belief that the unborn should be protected by law, a group of pro-lifers participated in Walk for Life West Coast, taking on what is considered by many to be the country’s most politically and socially liberal metropolis: San Francisco.

A crowd of more than 6,000 pro-life demonstrators gathered at the city’s Justin Herman Plaza on Jan. 22 to protest Roe v. Wade. The crowd then walked along the city’s waterfront to give witness to the city’s pro-life presence.

Dolores Meehan, 39, an organizer of the inaugural Walk for Life West Coast, believes the event was an idea whose time had come.

“This is my city,” said Meehan, a fourth-generation San Franciscan. “I’ve seen the exodus of families from San Francisco.”

“I’ve always been a financial supporter of the pro-life movement,” she added. “I realized that money is important, but now is the time to hit the streets. We need to stand up for what we believe in.”

As the pro-life marchers carried signs, many of which read “Women deserve better than abortion” and walked peacefully along the waterfront, they were greeted by about 3,000 pro-abortion protestors on either side of the street. Many pro-abortion protestors yelled demeaning chants and obscenities at the pro-life marchers. Two pro-abortion protestors were arrested by San Francisco police for assaulting a police officer.

“The pro-choice demonstrators were a collection of broken spirits,” Meehan said. “They were so wounded. I think we succeeded in being a witness of peace. Hopefully, if their hearts ever change, we’re there for them. It was the best witness to the Gospel I’ve ever seen.”

A pro-abortion rally was held just a few blocks away and attended by pro-abortion officials such as San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom and District Attorney Kamala Harris.

“I’m amazed that the mayor and DA came out for the pro-choice group,” Meehan said. “A total conflict of interest. How unprofessional.”

“We expected to be outnumbered by [the pro-abortion protestors],” Meehan added. “Here they have the Board of Supervisors and the media.”

According to a press release issued Jan. 11 by San Francisco Board of Supervisor Tom Ammiano, the Board of Supervisors planned to designate Jan. 22, 2005, as “Stand Up for Choice Day.”

“The assaults on women’s health and rights are constant,” Ammiano said. “The anti-choice climate in our nation’s capitol has emboldened the minority of anti-choice Americans to a point where they think they can come to our fair city and demonstrate against basic human rights. We felt it was vital that San Francisco be on the record in support of reproductive freedom.”

Referring to pro-life demonstrators, Supervisor Bevan Dufty said, “These outsiders who oppose women’s right to participate fully in our society are not welcome in San Francisco.”

Meehan estimated that 50% of those who attended the Walk for Life West Coast were from the Bay Area, with half that number from San Francisco itself.

“People were coming up to me and thanking me,” she said, commenting on the diversity of those who walked. “Old people, kids, Hispanic families.”

Sally Winn, vice president of Feminists for Life, flew in from Washington, D.C., for the walk. She described the event as “inspiring and invigorating.” At one time pro-abortion herself, Winn became pregnant while in college, an experience that changed her views on abortion.

“Through that pregnancy and my subsequent pregnancy, I came to the conclusion that to truly be a champion for civil rights I had to be one for those in the womb,” Winn said.

“I think Roe v. Wade could be overturned,” she added. “But it’s not enough. We have to make abortion not just illegal but also unthinkable so that women don’t feel forced to choose between children and careers or education.”

Carol Crossed of Democrats for Life of America spoke at the Walk for Life West Coast rally as well.

“Democrats like me are tired of being ignored and being told to keep our mouths shut,” she said. “It’s interesting that the San Francisco County Board of Supervisors was not welcoming to the pro-life organizations. I was here for the anti-Iraq-war rally and they didn’t tell me not to come. You would think they would be tolerant of alternative voices.”

Crossed said she sees Roe v. Wade being overturned.

“The Supreme Court has overturned itself 28 times in its history,” she noted. “Basically our society has evolved to have a more expansive interpretation of human rights. It’s only a natural conclusion that we would include the unborn in our comprehensive idea of humanity.”

J. Xavier Lorenzana, who drove up from Los Angeles with his family for the walk, said he was amazed by what he saw.

“It was a moving experience to see the other side’s reaction against life,” he said. “I was surprised to see how many women have been hurt in the past, to see that lack of love turned into hatred. The crowd was hungry for love.”

Martin Mazloom is

based in Los Angeles.