*TRIGGER WARNING* Would you Agree with a law to ban pro life protesters outside abortion clinics?

[Tryingtoslim]

Just interested in peoples thoughts

Before lockdown I often walked past the clinic in Whitfield Street in Londonderry n on my way to work. There are usually two women outside the clinic rattling cheap plastic rosary beads in pink and blue plastic. The other protesters stand across the road blocking the pavement.

I have written statements for the local council describing this and how it makes me feel and have been interviewed too.

I am in my 60s and am not sure I would have been brave enough to access a Marie Stopes clinic, if I had needed to with these groups outside. So I object on behalf of all the women who need help.

Anyone who lives near a clinic with protesters should contact Sister Supporter. They campaigned for the first UK "Buffer Zone" around a clinic in Ealing and supported Reclaim Rosslyn Road the group who campaigned for the 2nd one in Richmond.

It's a long hard fight with the council to get a buffer zone but it's definitely possible.

When Amber Rudd was Home Secretary she held a consultation into instigating national legislation. She was ousted before results could be published and then Sajid Javid came in and whitewashed the whole thing. Can't imagine Priti Patel would be at all interested.

Oh and for those worried about the "right to protest"... there is no such thing. We have the right to "freedom of expression" and the legislation is very clear that it does not preclude other people's human rights (to access medical care, privacy, not be harassed etc). It's worth reading the actual legislation to understand the caveats.

@rnbrie
I’m so so pleased that they’ve got a buffer zone around the Rossyln clinic.
I travelled their some years ago now, hundreds of miles, because I was very very poorly & couldn’t access a termination anywhere else closer to home.
It was the worst day of my life, I didn’t want to do it. But we were both so unwell. I was 21 & I left with a fourteen year old girl who I found shaking at the top of the stairs after her procedure. We were cornered outside and what felt like ambushed by these people telling us to find god, that he would help.
And so on.
It was horrific.

Yes. I unfortunately had to go through this once and was faced with a man shoving a plastic foetus in my face. Was horrible.

Yes

I am pro life and I had this debate with some old ladies at my church who were planning to go and pray outside a particular women's health clinic in London.
My friend had cervical cancer a few years ago. After being dismissed as an annoying woman just making a fuss by her GP, this particular clinic listened to her and got her diagnosed. If she'd had to walk through a group of people harassing her or praying 'silently' for her soul, she would probably not have gone in. She found it hard enough anyway because the GP had really convinced her she was a time waster. As it is, she had a fairly late stage tumour which would have killed her. It was treated aggressively and after a horrible couple of years she's in remission.
If we are going to be pro life, we must be pro all life even if it's middle aged women not just cute babies. If we are going to pray for unborn babies that's great and can be done just as appropriately in our homes and churches.
On further discussion the ladies at my church said they thought they would be able to educate pregnant teenagers about other options such as adoption.

@IntoTheUnknown89 'D'H? he doesn't sound like much of a darling....

Yes.

The protestors are pathetic, controlling, misogynistic arseholes. Keep them well away like the vermin they are.

SonetLuminere I don't agree. It puts boundaries around where these people can 'protest'.

This is completely normal procedure with demos and marches.

the ladies at my church said they thought they would be able to educate pregnant teenagers about other options such as adoption.

Thats not being pro life, its being anti abortion.
A pro life stance would be to put your hands in your pocket and help with the cost of having and raising unwanted children.

I was just thinking along those lines. Great to hear from a pro lifer who also cares about the loves of women

Yes, definitely!
No protests should be allowed around any sort of health establishment.

ZOMBIE THREAD
and have reported ilovebreastfeeding

Yes

Oh, didn't know this was an old thread

Yes. There's a batty old woman who stands outside our GP surgery with a placard even when it's closed.
They obviously don't perform abortions there but imagine going to discuss options with your doctor and being confronted by a weird woman holding an anti abortion sign and hissing at you.

Yes.

I can think of know other medical procedure or consultation where harassment would be allowed on your way in.

Replace abortion with asthma - imagine a protestor who was against ventolin. There is no way as a society we would tolerate banners and protests outside the asthma clinic!

*no

Yes