COUNTYWIDE : Abortion Protesters Form Giant Cross

Thousands of anti-abortion protesters from more than 250 churches in Orange and Los Angeles counties lined up for miles along Beach Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue on Sunday to form a giant cross in protest of the 18th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision.

The protesters stretched 12 miles on sidewalks along Beach Boulevard, from Slater Avenue in Huntington Beach to Artesia Boulevard in Buena Park, and 2 miles across on Lincoln Avenue through Anaheim. At major street intersections, people stood shoulder to shoulder carrying signs that read “Abortion Kills Children.”

Among the demonstrators was Rep. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton), who said he joined in the protest to be “a part of a statement affirming life as a value in our society.”

“This is the foundation of our world--the right to protest,” said Dannemeyer, gesturing to the crowd, “and it’s an important battleground of cultural war in America.”

The demonstration, which ran from 2 to 3 p.m., was peaceful. Protesters did little more than wave their signs at passersby. “It’s really more of getting the message across in a peaceful and potent way, because there are so many people here,” Jeff Jones, 33, of Newport Beach said.

Traffic at the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue slowed as drivers honked their car horns and yelled out their windows in support of and opposition to the demonstration.