Walk for Life Focuses on Planned Parenthood

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 22, 2010, 11.00 Hrs (UCAN):

On the 37th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, Americans are gathering East and West to affirm their support of the pro-life cause.

On Friday, thousands will gather in Washington D.C. in a rally and March for Life, to remind congress of the pro-life views of many U.S. citizens.

Thousands more will come together in San Francisco on Saturday, in a similar Walk for Life, to send a complementary message: "Abortion hurts women."

Eva Muntean, co-chair of the Walk for Life on the West Coast, told ZENIT that their event aims to "give women the opportunity to see that there are other alternatives to abortion."

As well, she added, it sends a message to those women who have had abortions, "that there is help out there for the suffering they may be experiencing."

Thus, the event includes not only the walk, but a rally with speakers, including women who have had abortions and explain how they were able to find healing afterwards, and others who work in organizations designed to serve these women.

Muntean told ZENIT that Saturday's activities are set up to disseminate information, through the rally and information booths, about the effects of abortion and how it hurts women.

This year's focus will be on Planned Parenthood in particular, as the nation's largest abortion provider.

A press release from the walk committee stated that "Planned Parenthood clinics perform about one third of all abortions in the United States, about 300,000 abortions in 2007-2008," and they receive "$350 million in tax dollars annually."

Saturday's speakers will include Abby Johnson, who was employee-of-the-year at her Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas, but converted to the pro-life cause when she was asked to assist in an abortion and saw in an ultrasound what happened to the baby.

As well, Lila Rose, president of Live Action, will share her experiences going undercover to Planned Parenthood clinics to expose abuses in the abortion industry.

Get involved

Participants will have the opportunity to gather information and material to take home to their own communities for spreading the word.

"People who come to the Walk for Life get completely rejuvenated and energized to go back to their communities," Muntean said, "and many have started pro-life clubs or organizations."

These events, she affirmed, "are very important at this time because of the climate in Washington."

The Walk for Life co-chair continued: "It is very important for people to get involved and do something, even if it is just picking up the phone and making phone calls.

"We must get informed and get involved."

Some 35,000 people are expected to arrive in hundreds of buses from as far away as Texas. Thousands more, who are unable to travel to San Francisco, will be joining in prayer and online updates via Twitter and Facebook.