Thousands march against abortion in S.F.

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 19 January 2008 | Anastasia Ustinova,Sabin Russell

[CounterCounterCulture]

Thousands march against abortion in S.F.

Thousands of abortion protesters marched along San Francisco's waterfront Saturday, hectored by a smaller band of abortion rights supporters, as both sides marked the impending anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that established those rights 35 years ago.

Although passions ran high in both camps, the event - what is becoming an annual trek by the anti-abortion movement into what they consider the heart of abortion rights territory - was peaceful.

At least 10,000 abortion opponents were bused into the city from all over California, and from outside the state, for a morning rally in Justin Herman Plaza.

The two-mile Walk for Life West Coast was organized to coincide with the forthcoming anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion in the United States.

Mark Bradford, 50, said he flew from Philadelphia to march for his 6-year-old son who has Down syndrome. "Every day I see the joy that my son brings to me and to my family," Bradford said. "It's distressing to me to think that under some circumstances that beautiful life would not be brought into the world."

The event was also promoted as a part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration and featured several black leaders, including Alveda King, a niece of the slain civil rights leader.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Thousands of anti-abortion demonstrators crowd into the park at Embarcadero Plaza for the fourth annual Walk for Life rally and march. Chronicle photo by Paul Chinn

Anti-abortion demonstrators participate in the Walk for Life rally in S.F. Chronicle photo by Kurt Rogers

Pangaea Sequoia yells at anti-abortion demonstrators taking part in the fourth annual Walk for Life march in San Francisco. Chronicle photo by Paul Chinn

(Yes, you read that right, Pangaea Sequoia, and yes, he is wearing a tie-dye dress)

[BenLurkin]

Pangaea Sequoia

That this real name?

I kinda doubt it.

Is he a coward?

Probably.

.

Just my opinion, of course.

[jiggyboy]

March, smarch. What I want to know is, did they do anything useful, like pass a petition around for everybody to sign. They love their petitions.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Our speakers today at the rally included Alveda King, (niece of Martin Luther King, Jr), Gianna Jessen (abortion survivor), Pastor Clenard Childress (of the website focused on Black Genocice), Jesse Romero (radio host), and Father Frank Pavone (Priests for Life).

Eduardo Verastegui, star of the movie Bella was to have made it, but plane delays prevented him from making the rally.

[jiggyboy]

Oops I read that completely wrong. I thought it was the moonbats marching. Apologies to the right to life advocates.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Yes, we have a new parental notification petition, also called "Sarah's Law."

www.friendsofsarah.com

[CounterCounterCulture]

The smaller moonbat group was just there to harrass us as usual with their inane chants and horrible music. I guess we really do need music back in the schools, because they frankly sucked. :-)

[Emmett McCarthy]

“A Dream A Lot Like Mine” is free for the listener at the link http://www.myspace.com/emmettgrayson

[CounterCounterCulture]

Pastor Clenard Childress (of the website focused on Black Genocice

try this again...
Black Genocide.

blackgenocide.org/black.html

[EagleUSA]

San Freakcisco? Where did they bus in all the conservatives from??

[CounterCounterCulture]

There are conservatives in San Francisco... they’re just horribly outnumbered. Some of us came from throughout the liberal Bay Area via mass transit, such as myself. Others did come by bus from throughout the state and beyond.

[Clintonfatigued]

The nation continues to slowly move in a pro-life direction.

[AliVeritas]

Hey triple C, you aren’t allowed to show pictures of a pro-life march... you must be re-educated. /s

Wait till you see my pics from D.C. Tuesday night.

God bless all of them. For those who can’t come to D.C., keep us in your prayers (especially me with the counters, see tagline). LOL

[AliVeritas]

What tipped you off... the skirt?

[Amendment10]

This post attempts to explain how FDR's 10th A.-ignoring establishment of New Deal federal spending programs like Social Security have led to ongoing social unrest concerning state issues like abortion as evidenced by this thread. Note that the post first references two non-abortion cases to show how renegade majority justices have essentially been ignoring the 10th A. since the days of FDR's dirty politics.

Anybody who feels inclined to comment about the above referenced post, please do so in this thread.

[Zetman]

It was quite an event. My feet are still sore!!

[irishjuggler]

At least 10,000 abortion opponents were bused into the city from all over California, and from outside the state, for a morning rally in Justin Herman Plaza.

Were bused? Interesting use of the passive voice. The terribly biased S.F. Chronicle makes it sounds like these participants were mindless rubes who were herded like cattle onto buses and taken to the big city. I know people who were attending today's event, and the truth is that it attracts plenty of local people who aren't "bused in." Sure, a lot of the college kids coming up from Southern California or the valley arrived by bus, but so what? To say that they were "bused in" implies a passivity that doesn't match reality. The folks are taking the initiative to defend life and are anything but passive drones.

[rogue yam]

Where did they bus in all the conservatives from??

I am conservative, I was there, and I walked there from my apartment.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Some of my pictures...

• Dr. Alveda King (left) being interviewed
• Pastor Clenard Childress (center) being interviewed by KCBS 740AM
• My sign emphasizing the civil rights aspect of this issue
• Flip side of sign supporting Duncan Hunter (who would unfortunately later that day drop out of the race for President)