Tens of thousands expected for San Francisco’s Walk for Life

San Francisco is once again preparing to host one of the largest pro-life gatherings in the United States, as thousands are expected to take part in this year’s Walk for Life West Coast on Saturday, 25 January.

Now in its 20th year, the event has become a cornerstone of the pro-life calendar in the western United States, drawing participants from across California and beyond. With banners and rosaries, walkers will process along Market Street to bear witness to the dignity of human life just days after the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

Organisers say the walk is a public act of love, aimed at offering a message of hope and healing for women who have experienced abortion, and a reminder that every life is worth defending. Though Roe was overturned in 2022, pro-life advocates say the work of cultural conversion and practical support for women is far from over—particularly in states like California, where abortion remains widely accessible and politically protected.

“This walk is about standing for life, yes—but also about standing with women,” said Eva Muntean, a co-founder of the event. “We want people to know there is help, there is forgiveness, and there is a better way.”

The day will begin with a morning Mass celebrated at St Mary’s Cathedral, followed by speeches, testimonies, and live music before the walk itself begins. A special focus this year will be on young people, with high school and university groups making up a large portion of attendees. Many will travel long distances by bus or train, often overnight, to be present.

Catholic clergy, religious sisters, and lay leaders are expected to be visible throughout the event, joining their voices with others from different denominations and pro-life organisations. While the mood is peaceful, security measures remain in place, as the walk has occasionally drawn small groups of counter-protesters in the past.

The Walk for Life West Coast was first launched in 2005 as a West Coast complement to the Washington March for Life. What began with a few thousand participants has since grown into a highly visible annual witness—testifying to the conviction that truth and love still have the power to move hearts, even in the most secularised cities.