Abortion Foes Form ‘Life Chain’ Along Streets : Protest: Organizers hope to spark activism among Roman Catholics. Archbishop Roger Mahony walks along the route and carries a placard.

In one of the largest anti-abortion demonstrations held in Southern California, thousands of people Sunday formed a “life chain” in the form of a cross stretching along 13 miles of roadway in Torrance and surrounding cities.

The demonstrators, many who came in buses and cars directly from church, stood along the curbs on both sides of Artesia and Hawthorne boulevards with American flags and anti-abortion placards, holding them high as passing motorists shouted approval or honked horns.

Organizers of the event--one of numerous “life chains” formed across the country Sunday--said it was held to call attention to the abortion issue and revive activism among sympathetic but so-far passive Roman Catholics.

“The church has been asleep on this issue,” said spokeswoman Monika Moreno. “We have been guilty of driving by abortion clinics and shutting our eyes.”

After Sunday, she predicted, “We are going to see a revival of activism in the church,” which had declared the day “Respect for Life Sunday” across the nation.

Redondo Beach Police Sgt. Avery Richey estimated that “well over 30,000 people” lined the route.

Counterdemonstrations were expected at the meeting point of the cross, but none materialized. The protest, which lasted from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., ended without incident or major delays in traffic, police said. Participants avoided blocking driveways, businesses or streets.

“There was some sporadic heckling but there were no arrests or citations,” Richey said. “I’d compare it to a rally after a college football game.”

Organizers said there were about 100 such curbside “life chains” staged nationwide, but that the one centered in Torrance was the largest.

Participants formed a huge cross by standing five miles east to west along Artesia Boulevard and eight miles north to south along Hawthorne Boulevard, extending into communities such as Redondo Beach, Hawthorne and Lawndale. The demonstrators, for the most part, stood about five feet apart, but there were gaps of 50 feet or more in places.

Among the participants were Linda Hibbert, 33, and Norelle Hewitt, 30, both of Melbourne, Australia, who were vacationing in California and learned of the event from a friend.

“Some woman passing by in a car may have had an abortion and I’m here calling her a murderer,” said Hewitt, holding up a sign saying “Abortion Kills Children.”

Brenda Castillo, 28, of Los Angeles was one of the few who did not claim allegiance to a church.

“I was born a Catholic, but I’m not a religious person,” she said. “I’m out here simply because innocent children are being killed.”

Archbishop Roger M. Mahony walked several miles along the route, shaking hands, offering congratulations to adults, and patting children’s heads.

At one point, he picked up a placard and joined the line in front of a Catholic bookstore on Artesia Boulevard in Torrance.

John T. Finn, director of the local “life chain” event, said it was a collaborative effort of organizations, including the California Republican Assembly, Hispanics for Life and Operation Rescue, which is known for its blockades of abortion clinics.

At a press conference kicking off the event, Bishop Carl Fisher, auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese’s San Pedro region, contended that abortion contributes to rising crime rates across the nation by sending a signal that “life is cheap.”

Although most passers-by encouraged the demonstrators, Candi Poag, who was out for a stroll along Artesia Boulevard, said she was unimpressed by the crowd.

“I think there are better things to do on a beautiful Sunday--like watch football,” the 29-year-old Torrance resident commented. “It’s depressing. People can spend so much time and money on something like this when our government is closing down for lack of funds.”

The formation of a “life chain” to protest abortion originated in California in 1987, when an event in Yuba City drew about 2,500 people. The largest previous demonstration was held in San Diego last year, drawing about 25,000. Another, held in Orange County in January, drew about 18,000 people.