Pro-lifers—young, old, and in-between—march, confusing reporters.

Some 22,000-35,000 folks (estimates vary rather widely) took part in Walk for Life West Coast 2010, and the March's website has a bunch of great photos taken by Maureen & Jim McKenzie of the Walk for Life West Coast Media Team. Jill Stanek has also posted some pics and videos.

The San Francisco Chronicle offered this interesting theory about the largely turn-out: "Emboldened by recent shifts in the political landscape, several thousand anti-abortion activists rallied in San Francisco on Saturday in a march that stretched from the Ferry Building almost to Fisherman's Wharf." Yep, it's always about politics when it comes to saving babies from being murdered. And:

The sixth annual Walk for Life, organized by two Bay Area women, was bolstered by busloads of marchers drawn from organizations across California. They walked from Justin Herman Plaza to the Marina district.

The event was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe vs. Wade decision, the Jan. 22, 1973, ruling that legalized abortion in the United States. Organizers have staged each of their yearly protests in San Francisco as a symbolic challenge in a city that strongly favors granting women access to abortions.
Smaller counterprotest

Surveying the throng walking in a steady drizzle, co-organizer Eva Muntean said, "The state of the movement is strong and growing. In this kind of weather, all of these people turned out. And most of them are young people. That's saying something."

It is indeed saying something since some in the Old, Tired, Weary and Dreary Media attempted to "report" that the vast majority of participants in "'Roe v. Wade' Anniversary Demonstrations" were in their 60s. However, that bit of journalism appeared before either march/walk in San Fran or D.C., so it was hard to take seriously. Steven Greydanus has some excellent coverage of both the bias and the actual March in D.C. Many bloggers have pointed out the ridiculous lengths some "journalists" went to in misrepresenting facts or ignoring them altogether. But don't be too hard of them, as some of them didn't even know who was protesting what.

Some, however, did "get it"; Robert McCartney of the Washington Post wrote:

I went to the March for Life rally Friday on the Mall expecting to write about its irrelevance. Isn't it quaint, I thought, that these abortion protesters show up each year on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, even though the decision still stands after 37 years. What's more, with a Democrat in the White House likely to appoint justices who support abortion rights, surely the Supreme Court isn't going to overturn Roe in the foreseeable future.

How wrong I was. The antiabortion movement feels it's gaining strength, even if it's not yet ready to predict ultimate triumph, and Roe supporters (including me) are justifiably nervous.

As always, we in Washington enjoy an up-close view of the health of various causes because of the city's role as the nation's most important setting for political demonstrations. In this case, I was especially struck by the large number of young people among the tens of thousands at the march. It suggests that the battle over abortion will endure for a long time to come.

"We are the pro-life generation," said signs carried by the crowd, about half its members appearing to be younger than 30. There were numerous large groups of teenagers, many bused in by Roman Catholic schools and youth groups. They and their adult leaders said the youths were taught from an early age to oppose abortion.

"People our age are going to be the ones to change, to be the future leaders," said Lauren Powers, 16, who came with a group from an all-girls Catholic school in Milwaukee. ...

Young people in the March for Life said they thought they were more opposed to abortion than people in their parents' generation because they had more information about the issue, in part because of their education.

"We start learning early on why it's wrong. I don't think they got the chance to do that," said Kelly Brennan, 17, who came here with a group from Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia.

Read it all.

"If a tree fell in the forest and no one was present," The old philosophical riddle asks, "would it make a sound?" The new version could be: "If tens of thousands march for life and the MSM ignores them, did they still march?" Well, yes, of course. I understand the frustrating, but no one should be surprised in the least. No one should be surprised that the gate keepers of the culture of death will lie, misrepresent, distort, and ignore its enemies. No one should be surprised that most in the MSM cannot comprehend, never mind honestly acknowledge, the culture of life.

Comments

[Ed Peters]

Yes, all these "news stories" about the dearth of young women, pure fabrication. I know, I've been attending such things for decades. They are CRAWLING with young vibrant, happy women.

[Mark Brumley]

Several thousands. Yeah. Right. Try 35,000-40,000.

[Bryan]

I was at the West Coast walk and, as you rightly guess, there were plenty of young women there. But there is one group that is worth watching that hasn't been mentioned - the Hispanics. They were in full force and brought a lot of joy to the event. Viva!

[Scott]

Those who know children and teens who go to these events need to follow up on the media coverage with them. Have them take a real good look around at the crowd that day, then show them the next day's media coverage and how the event is portrayed. Often there will be no coverage whatsoever---if so, show the children what DID make the news.

As they begin to learn these lessons about MSM and mainstream opinion and portrayal they will be less vulnerable to the swayings of that culture as they move on to college.

One other thing---please---if you see a young person who came alone, please greet them and give them your support. I ran into one college girl last year who came by herself. She said she was relieved and surprised that so many people felt as she did after being at college where so many disagree with her.

[Nicholas Jagneaux]

Scott,

You have a GREAT idea about teaching our youth (even those in their early 20s) about media bias. Thank you.