Tens of thousands of pro-life supporters are expected to rally in San Francisco today.
Organizers of the seventh annual Walk for Life West Coast rally expect more than 35,000 supporters to arrive at Justin Herman Plaza at 11 a.m. and walk along the Embarcadero to Marina Green, rally co-chair Eva Muntean said.
Last year’s march drew between 23,000 and 35,000 peaceful activists, Muntean said, and this year they expect even more.
“Our first year we had 7,500. Every year we’ve grown,” she said.
This year’s rally will be led by former Planned Parenthood director, Abby Johnson, and Brian and Denise Walker, a couple who regret their decision to abort their first child, Muntean said.
Organizers said their mission in starting Walk for Life West Coast was to change the perception of a society that thinks abortion is an answer.
After the walk, a special youth rally will be held at Fort Mason featuring live music and featured speakers, according to the 18-year-old organizer, Timmerie Millington.
“We’re focused on networking and activating the youth to be a part of promoting the pro-life message,” she said.
Saturday marks the 38th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s controversial Roe v. Wade ruling which legalized abortion, and pro-choice activists plan on making their side heard as well.
BACORR, the Bay Area Coalition for Our Reproductive Rights, plans on holding a counter-march, organizer David Elvecrog said.
“We want to celebrate the rights that we already have and work to keep them. For us it’s a civil rights issue,” he said.
BACORR is expecting prominent community leaders to speak at their counter-rally, including Board of Supervisors President David Chiu and activist Carol Downer, according to Elvecrog.
Erika Heidecker, Bay City News
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