Both sides of abortion debate collide at Louisiana Life March

SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) - Chilly conditions did little to reduce the energy of hundreds of abortion opponents as they marched from one side of the Texas Street bridge to the other Saturday, symbolically showing that many people in both Shreveport and Bossier City feel the same way they do.

"It's God's precious gift. We have to defend the defenseless, and so we're speaking out for life," pro-life marcher Amy Abraham said.

On the other side of span over Red River stood those who are pro-choice.

"I'm unabashedly pro-abortion, and I think that's a valid choice for a lot of women," pro-choice protester Claire Matthews said.

Organizers of the anti-abortion effort called it the 3rd annual Louisiana Life March.

Their goal: End abortions in Louisiana.

When they ended their march at Festival Plaza in downtown Shreveport, they were greeted by a group with the exact opposite mission - to allow women the choice of whether to continue a pregnancy instead of leaving it in the hands of the state.

"There are also people who do not agree with the views of the march. And that's why I'm here today to say there is another voice that needs to be heard," pro-choice protester Steve Caldwell said.

With this being a time of transition in Louisiana, participants in the Life March hoped to take their message to the state's new governor.

Abortion opponents said they want Gov. John Bel Edwards to make more opportunities available for pregnant women to reduce the number of abortions.

"Increase funding for adoption and foster care," urged pro-life marcher Tammy Harris. "Increase the availability of counseling services and things like that to just bring more availability of services to the women who are going through this."

Abortion supporters also want more health access, but in different forms.

"Hopefully, they'll close down crisis pregnancy centers and prevent them from misleading women any further and to support Planned Parenthood," Matthews said.

"They'll have greater choices there by having access to health care," Caldwell said. "Even the governor, who's pro-life, is supporting health care access."

The Louisiana Right to Life Federation says more than 10,000 abortions were performed in Louisiana in 2014.

That's why organizers said they will hold similar marches in Baton Rouge and Alexandria before the end of January.

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