San Francisco: Abortion foes march against Roe vs. Wade (20 Jan 2007)

sfgate.com ^ | 20 January 2007 | John King

[CounterCounterCulture]

SAN FRANCISCO: Abortion foes march against Roe vs. Wade

The national debate over abortion came to San Francisco's waterfront on Saturday, as thousands of abortion opponents marched peacefully along the Embarcadero while supporters of legal abortion staged a counterprotest alongside them.

The march began at noon after a rally at Justin Herman Plaza. By the time the last batch of marchers entered the Embarcadero 35 minutes later, the marchers in front had reached Pier 27 -- half a mile to the north.

The dueling events came two days before Monday's 34th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that gave women the legal right to abortion. But the size of the Walk for Life West Coast event, and the vigor of abortion-rights defenders, showed that passions surrounding the issue remain as vivid as ever.

Speakers at the pre-march rally -- which filled most of Justin Herman Plaza -- urged the crowd to do more than simply try to impose new restrictions on abortion.

"All you young people out there need to promise: Forget about making abortion illegal," said Dolores Meehan, one of the founders of the event, now in its third year. "Make it extinct -- how about that?"

[CounterCounterCulture]

Pics here

We'll have more pictures posted hopefully soon from Freepers-on-the-scene.

[madison10]

I suppose having SFGate call the marchers "Pro-Lifers" is asking too much...

[lndrvr1972]

Didnt Roe's child live? Do you think that he will be marching?

[irishjuggler]

God bless this year's participants. I know that in previous years they've had to endure tremendous abuse from the pro-abortion counter-demonstrators.

[CounterCounterCulture]

I know that in previous years they've had to endure tremendous abuse from the pro-abortion counter-demonstrators.

Indeed. This year the pro-aborts were a lot of the same old faces with the same old hatred and screeching of ridiculous bumper sticker slogans and rhetoric.

I think their numbers were down this year, but our side remains strong.

[CounterCounterCulture]

I'm just content they called our opposition "supporters of legal abortion" instead of the usual misleading "pro-choice"

[pbear8]

I found my husband in one of the Chron pictures. On the correct side of course.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Excellent. :-)

[CounterCounterCulture]

PING - FYI

[TigersEye]

Abortion is not about saving women’s lives!

Studies Find Abortions Have Long-Term Effects

45,951,133

Total Abortions since 1973

------------------------------------------------------------

Why the drop after 1960? (in deaths of women from illegal abortions)

The reasons were new and better antibiotics, better surgery and the establishment of intensive care units in hospitals. This was in the face of a rising population. Between 1967 and 1970 sixteen states legalized abortion. In most it was limited, only for rape, incest and severe fetal handicap (life of mother was legal in all states). There were two big exceptions — California in 1967, and New York in 1970 allowed abortion on demand. Now look at the chart carefully.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Abortion Statistics - Decision to Have an Abortion (U.S.)

· 25.5% of women deciding to have an abortion want to postpone childbearing

· 21.3% of women cannot afford a baby

· 14.1% of women have a relationship issue or their partner does not want a child

· 12.2% of women are too young (their parents or others object to the pregnancy)

· 10.8% of women feel a child will disrupt their education or career

· 7.9% of women want no (more) children

· 3.3% of women have an abortion due to a risk to fetal health

2.8% of women have an abortion due to a risk to maternal health

----------------------------------------------------------------------

So how many women’s lives have been saved by abortion?

Only about 3% of abortions since 1972 were reported to be “due to a risk to maternal health.” A reasonable person would recognize that not all of those cases represent a lethal risk. But let’s say they did. That means that nearly 45 million fetuses were butchered to save the lives of about 1.3 million women. Or put another way; 35 babies are killed to save each woman.

Abortion was legal in all 50 states prior to Roe v. Wade in cases of danger to the life of the woman.

Roe v Wade: FULL Text (The Decision that wiped out an entire Generation 33 years ago today)

[SeenTheLight]

Good job! I was there briefly (at the info faire at the end) and it was great to see all those enthusiastic young people taking part.

I didn't see any rabid, lefty protesters, but the fact that the ridiculously large police presence (guess they were afraid the mobs with pitchforks might come for the Christians!) had closed off nearby streets to traffic might have had something to do with that.

Anyway, it was a glorious sight to see in SF, that's for sure.

[CounterCounterCulture]

The lefty protestors were along the Embarcadero. They weren't in great numbers this year and one of the newschannels reported that Planned Parenthood didn't organize the counter-rally this year, but they still got face time on the channel I watched.

[Syncro]

Heck I missed all of you...CCC and STL I know the two of you were there.

I filmed at the start a little, then parked at the end of Fisherman's Wharf and filmed almost the whole March.

It took about 45 mins to pass where I was. What a great and large crowd!

I'll try to get some pics up this evening to post

[Yossarian]

Hi Syncro-

I also filmed some of the speeches at the start and some of the march, and took many pictures as well. I'm formatting the video right now (my first use of YouTube!), and should be able to post up stuff later tonight.