On Jan. 22, I was in San Francisco to visit my son and to participate in the West Coast Walk for Life. What I witnessed was in direct contrast to the stereotypes used against the pro-life movement.
Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood clinic manager, spoke. She thought she was helping women until she assisted in an ultrasound guided abortion of a 13-week old unborn baby. She explained that she now “mourns choice” and has written a recently released book, “Unplanned,” to discuss her conversion experience.
The Rev. Brian Walker, a Minnesota speaker from Pro-life Action, challenged men to respect and honor women saying, “Is there a man in the house?” He spoke of his regret in not supporting his girlfriend when she was pregnant, allowing the abortion of their child four months before their wedding.
Kathleen Eaton, the founder of Birth Choice Health Clinics, spoke of their rapid growth providing a pro-life alternative to Planned Parenthood’s health services. An abortionist predicted that the spread of Birth Choice Health Clinics across America will decrease abortions by 75 percent without overturning one law.
Our walk was peaceful with beautiful weather (70 degrees and sunny!) There was a record breaking 45,000 mostly young people walking in a city that has had higher abortion rates than birth rates. The counter protest was dramatically smaller and less orderly, pushing through our crowd and shouting obscenities at us even during the national anthem.
The pro-life movement has become primarily a youth movement, because many young people realize that 1/3 of their generation has been lost to abortion. It is the leading cause of death in the world. Our hope is in this next generation. I believe they will break the chain of the culture of death.
Laurie Pelkey
Brainerd
