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West Coast pro-life walk brings 25,000 to San Francisco

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SAN FRANCISCO (CNS) -- Spurred on by messages of forgiveness, repentance, reconciliation and commitment, nearly 25,000 people of all ages gathered at San Francisco's Embarcadero for the fourth Walk for Life West Coast Jan. 19. A sea of pro-lifers -- carrying banners and signs with messages against abortion -- flowed onto the waterfront streets and walked 2.5 miles to the Marina Green. Many participants carried children or pushed baby strollers, and thousands carried posters proclaiming "Abortion Hurts Women" and "Women Deserve Better." Many dozens walked behind banners featuring the name of their school, parish or organization. A group of 250-300 activists who support keeping abortion legal staged a counterdemonstration adjacent to the massive Walk for Life assembly. Some heckled participants as they walked. Alveda King, niece of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the assassinated civil rights leader, told the crowd how she has "repented and asked forgiveness" of God for her own two abortions, and said that if her uncle were alive today he would be fighting abortion.

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