More than 100 anti-abortion demonstrators gathered Saturday on the sidewalk across from the Women's Health Specialists clinic at 1750 Wright Street in Sacramento.

Each of the demonstrators came holding a yellow balloon with "Life" printed on it, said participant John Johnson, who coordinates the St. Peter's Young Adults Group in Dixon. Johnson said a nondenominational grassroots movement has coalesced, bringing a much larger turnout than on previous Saturdays. The demonstrators, he said, are a cross-section of ages and backgrounds.

"The response from young people, in particular, really took off," Johnson said. "We're trying to show that the pro-life movement can be mainstream and positive."

The demonstration began at 9 a.m., Johnson said, when a 2-year-old and his mother appeared on the sidewalk as the first "witnesses for life." They were joined by members of roughly 30 churches, one of whose priests has been leading them in prayer. A handful of representatives also came from counseling services and advocacy organizations.

Wynette Sills, president of the regional chapter of 40 Days for Life, said the demonstration has accomplished its purpose of shutting down the clinic this morning.

"This was not a protest but a family gathering meant to offer women assistance," Sills said. "Saturday is usually a busy abortion day for the clinic, but today they're closed."

Shauna Heckert, executive director of the clinic, said the demonstration did not affect its operations.

"Those protesters don't have the power to shut down the clinic," she said. "They did nothing of the sort. We're here for our women."

Heckert said she received a tip about the unusually large demonstration two days ago. A supporter called anonymously, Heckert said, because she reportedly took offense to a recruitment invitation she had heard in a sermon. Even though it was designed as a surprise, the demonstration was publicized in a Facebook message that reached Heckert's attention as well.

"We felt that statement on Facebook really crossed the line between freedom of speech and interfering with others' freedoms," Heckert said.

The clinic's lawyer, Mark E. Merin, observed the demonstration for any instances of harassment or disrupted access. He said that smaller-scale demonstrations happen routinely, often resulting in injunctions against overzealous participants.

As for the turnout this morning, Merin said he hadn't yet documented them impeding access, and that he didn't spot any participants who previously had blocked the clinic.

"We have to wait for something that violates rights, so it's a bit of a cat-and-mouse game we have to play here."

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Call The Bee's Ben Schenkel, (916) 321-1006. Bee researcher Jason Coughran contributed to this report.

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