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Original poster

A brave and stunning "six-foot aggressor"?

78 replies

Twowheeler · 10/03/2019 04:24

www.mancunianmatters.co.uk/content/090377927-pictured-anti-abortion-protestors-confronted-passerby-dramatic-scenes-outside

I've been involved in pro-choice counter activity outside abortion clinics (supporting women who want to access the clinic, not interacting with the anti-abortion campaigners) and these shifts were overwhelming covered by women. Yet, when I hear about physical confrontations with the other side, they seem to come from those who would never need an abortion themselves and are not the demographic who do the standing outside in the cold supporting women.

OP posts:
Ali1cedowntherabbithole · 10/03/2019 13:24

So a man attacked a woman. Plus ca change.

JessicaWakefieldSVH · 10/03/2019 13:23

I don’t think that’s a good comparison Lang, these people are harassing women trying to access healthcare. Again I’m not saying it’s ok, violence isn’t. Neither is harassment. I was harassed quite aggressively going into one, we weren’t in the right frame of mind to defend ourselves properly, but later I thought how much I would have liked to push them the hell out of my face and well away from the clinic.
When white women surrounded my brown skinned Mum and abused her, would it have been ok for me to get violent? It’s not always a clear cut situation. In this case this person is clearly in the wrong. I just happen to think the harassers are equally so. It’s not like they’re having a private meeting at a church, they’re outside a clinic for the sole purpose to harass. I think it’s ok to say both things are wrong.

StealthPolarBear · 10/03/2019 13:20

Seriously, have feminists prevented access to hormone therapy by harassing individuals as they enter the clinics? I must have missed those stories.

StealthPolarBear · 10/03/2019 13:05

Oh, do feminists congregate outside gender reassignment clinics?

LangCleg · 10/03/2019 12:43

I don’t suggest violence is ok, but I don’t think their protests are ok either. If you’ve tried to access abortion services and come up against their harassment as I have, you may understand why I’m not that bothered by this.

I don’t suggest violence is ok, but I don’t think their women's meetings are ok either. If you’ve tried to access immediate affirmative access to hormone treatment and come up against their objections as I have, you may understand why I’m not that bothered by this.

ScienceItUsedToBeAThing · 10/03/2019 12:26

I wouldn't have felt more comfortable entering while an unhinged man in leggins attacks old women next to me.

ScienceItUsedToBeAThing · 10/03/2019 12:25

I don’t suggest violence is ok, but I don’t think their protests are ok either. If you’ve tried to access abortion services and come up against their harassment as I have, you may understand why I’m not that bothered by this.

Due to protestors, I chose not to use my closest clinic (or the one that could see me most quickly).

It would NEVER occur to me to attack an elderly person nor to make excuses for a man who did so.

ScienceItUsedToBeAThing · 10/03/2019 12:23

That would make men and women angry, it certainly made my husband angry.

Did he assault any old ladies though?

Babyfoal · 10/03/2019 12:20

A big boy did it and ran away.

Cloven · 10/03/2019 12:10

Really, look at the photos. Certainly looks like it’s women who are being physically bullied and intimidated by this brave and stunning individual.

The protestors are disgusting for harassing women at a vulnerable time. It’s still not okay for a six foot XY person in their 20s/30s to use that as a pretext to lash out violently against elderly women. Let’s not normalise this, they’ll be beating up grannies for getting their pronouns wrong next.

Seaseasea · 10/03/2019 12:00

trinal there’s a playlist on Spotify called ‘repeal the 8th!’ Is perfect for such occasion.

Seaseasea · 10/03/2019 11:58

It was two woman and a man protesting... I don’t think it was neccesarily an act against woman. Although I think the protestors were engaging in an act against woman.

The person should have gone about making their point in a different way but if it stops them coming back and taking advantage of any more vulrenable girls, then I’m not angry about it tbh.

Trinalbcnotanonman · 10/03/2019 11:39

40 days started this week tempted to park behind them and blast George Michael's Freedom. Anyone got any other suggestions for a play list?

JessicaWakefieldSVH · 10/03/2019 11:34

They don’t, no. Both are wrong. I just don’t care to get worked up defending people who harrass women accessing healthcare

StealthPolarBear · 10/03/2019 11:33

Ehat those women were doing was jot in any way OK I agree. But this is one of those situations where two wrongs don't make a right.

JessicaWakefieldSVH · 10/03/2019 11:31

I don’t suggest violence is ok, but I don’t think their protests are ok either. If you’ve tried to access abortion services and come up against their harassment as I have, you may understand why I’m not that bothered by this.

Cloven · 10/03/2019 11:28

Interesting that it’s always women these people target with their “political” violence.

It’s almost like the trans identity provides a shield/excuse for XY peoplewho want to beat up women they don’t know and get away with it.

Pywife2 · 10/03/2019 11:27

Orchidinthesun - agree. I can't condone this behaviour just because I agree with the opinion this person allegedly holds.

People are justifiying these tactics against feminists, just label them TERFs and it's okay to punch them. If that's not okay, neither is this.

I'm not saying I'm completely non-violent, it can be necessary when standing up to fascists. Genuine fascists who will themselves use violence to stifle free speech and prevent opposition to their rise to power. The definition of 'facist' has been widened to include 'anyone I don't agree with' and is being used by men as an excuse for violence against women, intended to silence them. I can't oppose that, but justify this.

I don't think these women should be allowed near the clinic entrance, but this fiasco will do nothing but win support for them.

OrchidInTheSun · 10/03/2019 10:35

See also this guy

Note that they are assaulting women who are peacefully protesting.

There's no difference between these guys and Tara Wood who assaulted Maria McLachlan.

StealthPolarBear · 10/03/2019 10:34

You hear about people supporting women to physically enter these clinics. While I think it's disgusting such a service is needed, I think it's a wonderful thing to do and a peaceful way to counter protest.

Seaseasea · 10/03/2019 10:32

I’ve seen many woman have confrontations with anti abortion protestors too, they make me sick and are there to try and persuade woman in a vulrenable position to do what they want.
The person shouldn’t have been aggressive but I can’t get worked up about this at all. And think that actually We need more people (calmly) standing up to protestors like this.

Katvonfelttipeyebrows · 10/03/2019 10:31

Well done idiot. You just attacked a bunch of grannies. I totally don't agree with the grannies but I can do that without violence.

The transwoman just looks unhinged.

StealthPolarBear · 10/03/2019 10:25

Guessing she doesn't understand this comment
"hometownglory

Sorry, meant to say that the aggressor is pro life."
I'd love to have it clarified too

dragoning · 10/03/2019 09:57

He could by all means debate the anti abortion protestors, campaign to have their protests moved away from clinic gates, stage a counter protest. As women do all the time.

A young man behaving violently and aggressively towards pensioners isn't OK in any context.

LangCleg · 10/03/2019 09:49

Hold on - the “aggressor” is one of the pro choice campaigners so I am not really understanding some of the pp comments?

You don't understand why PPs are objecting to a six foot plus, healthy and fit young male physically threatening and displaying violent behaviours towards women in their 70s because the six foot plus, healthy and fit young male has the same opinion as you about abortion?

Any other occasions when you think it's okay for women in their 70s to be threatened with physical violence by six foot plus, healthy and fit young males?

Anti-abortion protests should be regulated by legislated exclusion zones to protect the vulnerable women using abortion services. Otherwise, people are entitled to hold political and moral opinions without threat of violence, even if you (and I) don't like them.