Alcatraz is visible in the distance on one stretch of the route participants in the Walk for Life in San Francisco traveled on Jan. 24. While much of the attention is focused on the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., a growing number of people have been participating in the West Coast Walk for Life in San Francisco, including Springfield resident Bob Sherman.
Sherman, a member of St. Agnes Parish in Springfield, participated in his second Walk for Life on the West Coast Jan. 24. He joined a group from his son's parish in Sparks, Nev., to make the eight-hour round trip bus journey to participate. Bill Sherman and his oldest daughter, Cynthia, were part of the group. The fifth annual walk was held to observe the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in the United States.
An estimated 32,000 participated in the rallies and three-mile march along San Francisco's Embarcadero. The procession stretched more than a mile, and it took an hour for marchers to cross the finish line.
"There were probably a couple of hundred protesters scattered along the sidelines. Some had signs, and called out things," but they did not deter the walkers or dampen their determination, said Sherman. "I think the opposition was more robust and obstinate this year than they were two years ago, when I was there," he said.
"It was a great experience. Father (Frank) Pavone from Priests for Life was there. We heard some wonderful speakers. There were speakers talking in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. A Baptist minister spoke at one of the rallies."
The walk route was typical for San Francisco, which meant going up and down hills for parts of the walk.
"There were people of all ages, men and women, some parents were pushing young children in strollers. A lot of people carried signs, with things like ‘Women deserve better,' printed on them," Sherman said.
By the time the three buses from Immaculate Conception Parish returned to the church parking lot in Sparks, it was dark, and Sherman said he was tired. But he said that did nothing to stop his resolve to return to make the walk again.