For more than 50 years, in every-increasing numbers, young adults and youth have consistently braved travel and winter weather challenges to show up and walk in support of human life in the biggest pro-life walks—in Washington, D.C. and also for the past more than 20 years, in San Francisco, and in other pro-life walks across the nation. This year, 2026, is no different. The article below focuses on the San Francisco Walk for Life, providing a glimpse into the “why” behind the abundance of young adult participation throughout the country.
Archdiocese of San Francisco—Every year, we see many photos of young people at the Walk for Life. Catholic San Francisco interviewed a few from the San Francisco Bay Area to learn more about what motivates them to show up, year after year–and why they plan to walk again on Jan. 24 in San Francisco in the 22nd Annual Walk for Life West Coast.
“It is a fantastic way for us to stand up for life as a whole,” said Gabe Valencia, 23, (pictured below with St. Joseph pastor Father Engelberto Gammad) who leads a youth group at St. Joseph Parish in Mountain View. “All human beings have that right to life and that includes those in the womb. Us being there is a statement. We are in San Francisco which has become a very progressive city and has become very prochoice. It says something.”
The Walk is a chance to engage, Valencia said. “The people on the street, they see what we are doing, and it gets them thinking. Conversations with them are great.”
“We are the generation to come,” said Danielle Jow, president of St. Dominic’s Young Adults group and chair of Archbishop Riordan High School’s theology department. “It is important to be able to build and also witness a Culture of Life to others around us. We can be this living example of not only hope but also the strength of our faith.”
“It is important to show our city, and our country that people care about life, and are willing to fight for it,” said Mason Friedberg, an engineer at an interactive science museum who will come with friends from Star of the Sea Parish young adults’ group in San Francisco.
“Every single person who has ever walked on this planet has existed in the mind of God for all eternity,” said Valencia, who said he used to be prochoice. “The reality of what is done to the unborn. It is very cruel. It would not be done to other living beings.”
Megan Sauter, a recent graduate of Santa Clara University, joined in singing of the rosary at the front of the Walk in 2025, even as pro-abortion protestors hurled insults at the walkers. (Sauter is shown above with sign)
“I remember getting nervous. Then, I thought, no, no, this is actually what I am called to. This is me, living my vocation. It was smiles all over the place,” said Sauter.
“This is how we stand up to protect the weakest and the undefended. This reflects everyone. Individuals who are disabled, for our elderly who are just being scattered and not being well taken care or suffering from loneliness at the end of their lives,” said Sauter. “We march for all of them. We also march for the moms who are struggling to protect their babies. We march for the women who were told there wasn’t support for their pregnancy.” 
Coming to the Walk for Life is part of their commitment to life and faith, according to interviews with the young adults.
“The Walk for Life is not a one-and-done kind of event. I want to put my time and resources to supporting organizations that cherish life from conception to natural death, and that the road to support all life is long, but possible,” Friedberg said.
Sauter is volunteer director of marketing for Catholic Young Adults, an 1,800-strong group based in Silicon Valley. “What I love about being Catholic is that it is not a political allegiance. Despite what the government promises, my community will step in, independent of right or left or gender or age. We know all lives truly matter.”
“In the young professional community, we understand we are called to working in witness to Christ. We lead by example.”
For more information on the Walk for Life West Coast, https://www.walkforlifewc.com/
Watch the below video promoting the Jan. 24, 2026 Walk for Life West Coast. Rally begins at 12:30 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco, followed by Walk along Market Street. Join Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone at 9:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption for the Walk for Life West Coast Mass.
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