San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy waves to participants in the Caravan for Life around the San Diego County Administration Building. Photo by Chris Stone 
Pro-life advocates in about 75 cars participated in the Caravan for Life around the San Diego County Administration Building. Photo by Chris Stone 
Participants in the Caravan for Life decorate their car with crosses with rosaries and signs. Photo by Chris Stone 
San Diego Auxiliary Bishop Ramón Bejarano participates in the Caravan for Life around the San Diego County Administration Building. Photo by Chris Stone 
A family participates in the The Caravan for Life, the final event of the community’s 9th annual San Diego Walk for Life. Photo by Chris Stone 
Zelina Meza of Chula Vista decorates her car prior to the Caravan for Life around the San Diego County Administration Building. Photo by Chris Stone 
A young girl holds a Repect Life sign as she stands in an open sunroof of a car. Photo by Chris Stone 
A young girl holds a Pray to End Abortion sign as she stands in an open sunroof of a SUV in downtown San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone 
Participants in the Caravan for Life decorate their vehicles with signs and flags. Photo by Chris Stone 
San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy waves to participants in the Caravan for Life around the San Diego County Administration Building. Photo by Chris Stone 
A man with a Vatican flag and a Knights of Columbus flag participates in the Caravan for Life. Photo by Chris Stone 
Pro-life advocates gathered on the corner of Grape Street and Harbor Drive to support the Caravan of Life. Photo by Chris Stone 
A pro-life advocate supports a Caravan of Life, involving about 75 cars. Photo by Chris Stone 
As a passerby with her arm up calls “Pro choice,” pro-life demonstrators watch during a Caravan of Life. Photo by Chris Stone 
About 75 cars were registered to participate in the Caravan for Life in downtown San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone 
A driver passes as a young boy holds up a pro-life sign by the San Diego County Administration Building. Photo by Chris Stone 
A couple dozen people hold blue flags and signs to support the Caravan for Life in downtown San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone 
A boy on a bike ride with a group passes a young boy at the San Diego County Administration Building who is demonstrating for the end to abortion. Photo by Chris Stone
As many as 100 vehicles bearing decorations and signs circled the County Administration Center on Saturday in a quiet demonstration against abortion.
Taking the place of the annual Walk for Life, the COVID-era “Caravan to Celebrate Life” came two weeks after its originally scheduled date — to avoid mixing with an adjacent rally for Donald Trump.
In fact, “Our event today is not a political event,” said caravan organizer Maria Valencia, associate director of the San Diego Roman Catholic Diocese’s Office for Life, Peace and Justice.
“It’s just like more a support for women who are in need, support moms and babies, and to witness what we believe,” she said.
In the first such San Diego event since pro-life judge Amy Coney Barrett was elevated to the U.S. Supreme Court in a contentious Senate vote, discord was minimal Saturday on Harbor Drive.
No counterprotesters showed up — and no police presence was observed. Passing cars honked horns in support.
But a pedestrian shouted “Pro-choice!” and a young woman yelled obscenities out of her car, closing with “Get a life!”
That was the point, said Valencia, a 54-year-old Chula Vistan.
“Despite the circumstances … we want to show our pro-life spirit, and we need to be united as a community to witness that life is beautiful, that life is sacred, and we have to be the voice of those who have no voice — the unborn babies,” she said before the event.
What outcome did she want?
Valencia said she’d like to see an increase in the diocese’s pro-life spirit.
“My job is to build a culture of life here,” she said on a cool and sunny day. “So we need to educate people about what is pro-life. And pro-life is not just saving babies, it is also thinking of the more vulnerable — the poor, the immigrants, the people who are in the Death Row. People with disabilities.”
San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy and Auxiliary Bishop Ramón Bejarano took part in the caravan, which circled the waterfront landmark for about 45 minutes.
Valencia, part of the pro-life movement for 10 years, said she’s optimistic for change.
“That’s what I’m here, of course,” she said. “We have a lot of challenges, but when you have challenges that’s always opportunity to grow — right?
“When we are together as a community, nothing can stop us. And of course, God is with us. And the Holy Spirit inspires us to be here and to express our joy for this beautiful event.”
