San Francisco, CA (LifeNews.com) -- About 20,000 pro-life people participated in the annual Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco, a location most people don't think of as a place for a large pro-life event. Last year, more than 15,000 families, friends and students attended the 'walk' to celebrate women and to celebrate life.

This year, organizers and law enforcement said there was an even greater turnout.

"The Walk for Life West Coast is a growing movement that is attracting national attention, especially among young people," said Dolores Meehan, co-founder of the event. "Clearly, the pro-life movement is quite alive in California."

As in previous years, a number of well-known pro-life advocates spoke beforehand. including Carol Crossed of Democrats for Life, Talitha Phillips of Silent No More and Father Frank Pavone, director of Priests for Life.

"Walk for Life's primary goal is to reach out to women and men of all political persuasions with the message that abortion hurts all women," said Eva Muntean Walk for Life co-founder. "Why San Francisco? We live here. This is our home."

It is also the congressional district represented by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Organizers of the Walk for Life West Coast requested a meeting this week with their member of Congress, which was ignored by Pelosi and her staff.

"Pelosi is the nation's highest-ranking woman ever in the history of the United States and has a greater responsibility to serve as a role model for all women in America, not just in San Francisco. Speaker Pelosi must not ignore pro-life women." Meehan said.

The walk began with a rally at Justin Herman Plaza and proceeded along the San Francisco Waterfront to the Marina Green.

The event again included an info fair with information about pregnancy resources and post-abortion counseling.

"For too long, San Francisco has been co-opted by the abortion industry," said Meehan. "With over 30 million women reported as having had abortions performed on them, it stands to reason that city that leads the nations in abortions, also leads the nation in women and men who have been hurt by abortion."

Related web sites:
Walk for Life West Coast - http://www.walkforlifewc.com