Walk for Life West Coast 2015

Under beautiful blue skies, the 2015 West Coast Walk for Life took off from City Hall. Like last year, the walk rambled along Market Street from Civic Center Plaza to Justin Herman Plaza at a lazy, happy pace. While the signs tell the story of the march – why people came and their sentiments – three new features stood out this year.

First, the march was more joyful and “happy-faced” than ever, including an anti-abortion secular contingent. Second, the technology allowing us to see unborn babies has made it’s way into the parade for life. Third, the pro-abortion voice has reached new levels, openly advocating for the abortion of all babies to “save the planet.”

Let’s start with my favorite sign this year. Thanks to Amelia for making and posing with her poster. Awesome Amelia.

We’ve all been in marches but our Walk for Life West Coast has become a fun and joyful event. This year, yellow balloons, happy faces and a very youthful crowd created a festive atmosphere.

While the pro-life movement is often associated with religious orientation in the media, Feminists for Life – which originated the slogan “Women Deserve Better” – has always opposed abortion, following in the steps of the original feminists. This year, SecularProLife.com made its presence known.

And this T-shirt told the abortion story in terms familiar from childhood tales.

Many walkers came in groups, with their own custom T-shirts, prayers or music.

Women who regretted their abortions came to say so, just as fathers grieved lost fatherhood.

I liked the homemade signs. They seem to come from the heart.

Despite the science, abortion proponents insist that “fetuses” are not human, not babies, not children, not people – a category of life with no rights, protection or value.

But Amelia did not think so. Pro-life signs asserted the dignity – and rights – of the silent unborn.

Historical perspective was offered.

In the hot spots along the route, order was maintained by the dedicated San Francisco Police.

As the Walk has grown and become safer over the years, the crowd has swelled with young adults, teens and children.

Yet, on the edges, advocacy for death howls. This year, for the first time, one protestor called for the death of all babies – to save the planet. Isn’t this “hate speech”?

What a contrast to the Culture of Life – darkness and light side by side on Market Street in San Francisco.

We reached the end of the Walk happy to see signs for … logistics.

Happy to see media coverage.

Happy to pass through the end of Walk balloon arch – where the determined pro-life youth linked arms to buffer the last ditch efforts of the opposition. Frankly, I could not hear the opposition over the “pro-life” chant of these young adults.

It was a day to walk in favor of life.