On Saturday, two opposing demonstrations divided San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza, bringing the national debate over abortion rights to the forefront. Separated by just one street, the opposing groups reflected the stark and ongoing clash over reproductive rights in the U.S. At the 21st annual Walk for Life West Coast march, sponsored by the Catholic Church, participants marched through San Francisco, marching for stricter abortion laws. Meanwhile, pro – choice activists gathered across Lark in Street in front of the San Francisco Public Library, calling for the protection of reproductive rights and bodily autonomy.
The protests come just one day after the March for Life rally in Washington, D.C., and follow recent pardons by President Donald Trump for anti – abortion activists convicted of blocking access to healthcare clinics.
The presence of the Catholic Church was prominent at the Walk for Life West Coast march, where clergy members, dressed in religious garb, were leading prayers and carr ying anti – abortion signs. The Church has long played a significant role in the anti – abortion movement. On the other side, pro – choice activists emphasized not only the protection of abortion rights but also broader concerns around reproductive justice, expr essing opposition to what they saw as encroachments on personal freedoms by both political leaders and religious organizations.
In the shadow of City Hall, a heavy police presence stood between the opposing groups, monitoring the situation. Officers, pos itioned strategically along Larkin Street and in key intersections, worked to maintain order as the atmosphere remained charged.
As the nation remains deeply divided over reproductive rights, the events in San Francisco underscored the ongoing battle over the future of abortion access in the United States, with both sides steadfast in their resolve to shape the direction of the country’s laws and policies.
Michaela Herbst is a University of Colorado Boulder graduate with a B.A. in journalism and minor in political science. She was previously a Carnegie-Knight News21 Fellow at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. Michaela is an award-winning journalist for her reporting on “America After Roe.” She was recognized by the RFK Human Rights Foundation as a two-time recipient of the Kennedy Human Rights Award for Journalism. Michaela is also a three-time EPPY, two-time Telly and Webby award recipient. She was honored by the Society of Professional Journalists with the Mark of Excellence Award. Throughout her undergraduate career Michaela held leadership positions for TEDxCU, The Bold, CU Honors Journal, Z2 Entertainment and the CU Independent. She recently served as a Democracy Fellow for Congressmen Jason Crow and Jamie Raskin. She is passionate about reporting on women’s rights, climate change and the arts. Michaela is excited to pursue her graduate studies in journalism at Stanford University.
Rebecca double majored in Human Biology and Communication as an undergraduate at Stanford University. Hailing from Trinidad and Tobago, she sought to tell stories from the Caribbean and those of the diaspora in the United States. Over the past summer, she worked on the California Reporting Project's Community Law Enforcement Accountability Network. She hopes to broaden the scope of her journalism skills and subjects she covers during her time in the coterminal journalism master's program. Rebecca is excited to dive deeper into multimedia journalism. On campus, she is a part of Cardinal Calypso, a steelpan ensemble and the Caribbean Students Association.
Originally from Almaty, Kazakhstan, Nina graduated from New York University with a B.A. in International Relations, where her academic focus spanned global conflicts, economic policy and climate change. She held editorial roles in her high school newspaper and yearbook, and continued to collaborate closely with the newsroom following graduation. Nina built international experience in strategic communications for leading companies in data analytics, financial services, medical research and media. Growing up across three continents, Nina developed an early passion for languages, pursuing French, Mandarin, Turkish, and now focusing on Arabic. As an aspiring foreign correspondent, she is interested in covering geopolitical developments, human interest stories and diplomatic affairs. Nina is also an avid tennis player and painter.
Audrey grew up in Jakarta and Singapore, then moved to Washington D.C. for college and graduated with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Maryland College Park in 2020. After graduation, Audrey worked at Metro TV and Metro Globe Network in Jakarta. She was a news presenter, producer and reporter for Jakarta Movers & Shakers, a business and economic program. She anchored the nightly news for Asia Prime & World News and hosted the entertainment program ShowBiz, interviewing artists and musicians. Her work has also been published in Voice of America and The Jakarta Post. At Stanford, Audrey focuses on becoming a data-driven journalist specializing in business and technology reporting while deepening her understanding of artificial intelligence. Outside the newsroom, Audrey loves running marathons, reading romance books and spending time with her Shiba Inu.
