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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Pro-Lifers told to keep their distance

180 replies

longwayoff · 21/08/2019 11:44

A court has ruled that anti-abortionists should keep 100 meters away from women attending the Ealing clinic. AIBU to say quite right too?

OP posts:
mumguiltrearingitshead · 21/08/2019 12:49

Good. Wish it was more.
When I was in hospital having my baby there was loads of them shouting outside. The midwives were disgusted but said there was nothing they could do.

bambalaya · 21/08/2019 12:50

Lots of clinics offer different services. I read about an American woman who couldn't afford healthcare, was able to get cervical cancer checks at one and after a bad result had people screaming 'murderer!' at her. Just what you need when you're terrified. It makes me so angry.

AnAC12UCOinanOCG · 21/08/2019 12:50

I used to work in Ealing and now I finally realise what those people with placards were doing. I never got close enough to see what was on them.

Dammit I wish I'd known so I could've said something.

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 21/08/2019 12:51

Good. I find that most of those protesting are not even Pro-life, they are Pro-judgement.

Disfordarkchocolate · 21/08/2019 12:51

I'm pro-life, but only for me.

I don't think I have any right to impose my views on anyone or promote legislation that limits what other people do. The people protesting are cruel and should be stopped completely.

AnAC12UCOinanOCG · 21/08/2019 12:54

An aside, but I really wish we would stop calling these people pro-life. Nobody is anti-life. It's pro-choice or anti-choice, or pro-choice and pro-forced-birth.

mumguiltrearingitshead · 21/08/2019 12:56

@Disfordarkchocolate so you're pro choice then? That's the definition of pro choice.

HauntedPinecone · 21/08/2019 12:57

Some women have changed their decision to terminate a pregnancy at the last minute due to the support of these people and are likely very grateful they were there

Where is the evidence for this? I cannot imagine any woman, having made the decision to terminate, having her mind changed by a bunch of swivel-eyed loons protesting about a woman's right to choose what to do with her body.

NoBaggyPants · 21/08/2019 12:58

There are people on Facebook saying this is an attack on free speech.

No, it's an injunction on intimidating vulnerable women.

LeysaV · 21/08/2019 12:59

YANBU

I have never had a termination, never been in a position, luckily, that I had too but I would far rather legal terminations than a return to the 1960s backstreets . A woman choice . Those whom attack them for having a termination are just plain horrible as I imagine it is not a decision to take lightly to begin with.

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 21/08/2019 13:00

What support do people screaming "Murderer" and other vile shit offer anyone? They offer nothing but bile and may prevent women from making decisions they feel they need to make.

NoBaggyPants · 21/08/2019 13:01

@Lamentations What practical help and support have they offered? Are they going to feed and clothe the child for the next eighteen years? The pro-lifers at my local hospital (now banned from the grounds) were asked about this, and they had no answers.

Lamentations · 21/08/2019 13:02

Haunted if you read my post again I'm saying that there are other groups who will be affected by the ban. I haven't said that I think the angry types are helpful to anyone.

Hithere12 · 21/08/2019 13:04

Some women have changed their decision to terminate a pregnancy at the last minute due to the support of these people and are likely very grateful they were there

Yawn. What support have you/they given? Babysat the kid? Given them money? No you’ve just manipulated a young kid who probably already felt guilty into making a decision YOU wanted them to make.

BarbariansMum · 21/08/2019 13:04

YANBU They have a right to protest but not to harass. I think 100m is OK if they stick to it. Suspect they'll not be so keen on protesting now they can 't intimidate anyone though.

drivingtofrance · 21/08/2019 13:06

Good.

It should be further away but that's a start.

bengalcat · 21/08/2019 13:07

In 1960’s London beds would be kept free and staff on standby on Fridays and the weekends for the regular presentation after payday of some poor( literally ) unfortunate women suffering from the complications of the presumably well meaning but misguided back street abortionists - bleeding and severe sepsis - some survived often without a uterus and others didn’t - left behind devastated families children and husbands . That’s how it was .

OrangeSlices998 · 21/08/2019 13:09

@Lamentations Having been to, and worked in, these types of clinics I have never seen or been told of any help or support protestors have offered or who are being kind or helpful. Who is being harmed by being 100m from the clinic? No-one. They can still protest if they wish, just 100m away. If reputable services wish to offer genuine assistance, there are far better ways to do it than standing outside a TOP clinic alongside those hurling abuse and misinformation.

OP, YANBU. Sad to see 4% of people think you are.

HauntedPinecone · 21/08/2019 13:10

Oh ok. In that case, where is the evidence for minds being changed left, right and centre from these 'other' groups?

By the way, in all my years of escorting women into clinics I never saw a one single representative of any 'other' group. Just the usual spittle-flecked forced birthers. I must have missed the helpful people who were just there to offer support, money, clothing, etc.

SunnyIn · 21/08/2019 13:15

I'm pro-life, but only for me.

I don't think I have any right to impose my views on anyone or promote legislation that limits what other people do. The people protesting are cruel and should be stopped completely.

So pro choice then?

elizzza · 21/08/2019 13:16

No @Lamentations, the people with sincere intentions to offer practical help and support to any women who feel conflicted and may feel as though they have no choice work inside the clinic. Shouting abuse and handing out scaremongering leaflets (making wild claims like having an abortion increases your risk of breast cancer??) isn’t helping anyone.

TheYeaSayer · 21/08/2019 13:17

Why are none of the 4% YABU people coming on to defend themselves? Go on, do a quick NC and explain.

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 21/08/2019 13:22

Should be 1000m, not 100m. I have no time for these people at all.

Lamentations · 21/08/2019 13:24

Ok so clearly this is an AIBU where only one opinion is acceptable - even if I have mostly agreed with the OP.

There are women who would like to choose to continue with a pregnancy but don't feel they are able to due to unstable housing and finances.

There are UK charities that offer financial support and housing for women who are considering terminating a pregnancy because of these factors. This enables them to make a choice about what to do.

Other women make a choice to terminate a pregnancy for other reasons. That is their business.

So, again.

No I don't think people should stand outside abortion clinics being twats.

Yes I do think it's a good thing that some pro life organisations offer alternatives (CHOICE!) to women.

Shoot me.

Glasscrab · 21/08/2019 13:27

An aside, but I really wish we would stop calling these people pro-life. Nobody is anti-life. It's pro-choice or anti-choice, or pro-choice and pro-forced-birth.

Not an aside at all, but an important point.

And yes, I too await one of the anti-choice people who think that it's reasonable to allow protesters to intimidate and harass women attending a clinic which offers terminations coming on here to defend their views.

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