To think protests outside abortion clinic are not "vigils" and should be banned.

[codeVeronica]

The Scottish government are trying to ban protests outside clinics that provide abortion services. This has been on the books for a while but has been brought to the forefront after what just happened in the USA. But the odious mysoginist (and homophobe, and downplayer of child sex abuse, and all right shithead) John Mason is trying to argue that these protests are actually vigils for unborn babies. Vigils that apparently involve harrasing women trying to access medical care.

Why this toad keeps getting elected is anyones guess.

You're totally right - they are nothing but excuses to harrass and victimise women at what could be a very vulnerable point in their lives, and they shouldn't be allowed anywhere near clinics.

Absolutely should be banned

If they can’t be banned due to the right to protest, there should be a very wide radius in to which they are allowed to come into the clinic with

Everyone has the right to protest so I am torn on this. I think its bullying women at the most vulnerable time of their lives but people have a right to protest. Like i said i am torn

I suspect the answers you get here will be very different to here:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4191648-Priti-Patel-wants-to-ban-protest-Bill-going-through-this-week

A vigil is as defined in the screenshot attached.

Harassing and intimidating people isn't a vigil.

The Scottish Government agree which is why Nicola is asking people to protest at Parliament where the decisions are made, instead of at clinics where vulnerable women are trying to seek medical treatment.

I was really disappointed when I had an abortion that there were no protestors outside, I'd gone fully prepared to give them a good ear bashing!

It's awful that they are allowed though, there should definitely be a ban. Vigil, what bollocks.

If you want to protest against abortion surely it makes more sense to conduct a protest at a place where the laws around abortion are made.

I remember the stress of walking through a fucking ground of weirdos trying to thrust crappy photos of foetuses at me as I went for a termination and my friend starting an argument with them, and me just wanting everyone to fuck off. So I'd be really happy to see them moved.

I was 15 coming out of a clinic with my mum....was met with this and I was terrified. I'd been hysterical anyway after having the procedure and had to fight my way through an aggressive crowd to a taxi. They were holding the car door open and shouting. I cried all the way home with my head in my mums lap. Its not something I'd ever wish upon anyone at such a vulnerable time. They can protest, but do it somewhere else.

Women accessing medical treatment should not be intimidated or harassed.

Anyone doing so should be arrested and charged as appropriate.

We cannot tolerate this in a democratic society. A right to protest is not a right to intimidate/harass women at a vulnerable time in their life.

Womens rights cannot be eroded any further.

Would you let someone in the room with the patient to protest? No? Then it's just a matter of where the line is drawn. And I'd draw it at least 500 kilometres from the clinic.

They are not protesting- they are harassing women on their way to an already potentially upsetting medical procedure. Want the government to ban abortion? Then protest at parliament. The individuals having or providing abortions can't change the law. Blocking people on their way into a building, or forcing them to keep a baby won't change the law.

I'm sure if men were being prevented from accessing life saving medical treatment by "protesters" then the people harassing them would be arrested for threatening and abusive behaviour (in Scotland). Somehow this is treatment the public feel they should have a say over.

Yanbu. The police should come and round them all up and arrest them.

Who are the people that protest outside abortion clinics? Don't they have jobs to go to?

@TitoMojito excellent point. I must admit i hadn't thought of that

It makes perfect sense to ‘protest’ outside clinics if you just want to intimidate women because you hate them.

Why are they not protesting outside IVF clinics? They destroy embryos too or is it only when they are inside a woman that they count? Which to me says it all.

Absolutely. These are vile bullies and need to be stopped.

There is no excuse for it and no place for this intimidation and harassment.

In Dublin, they're known to stand outside the maternity hospital in the city centre with small, fake homemade "coffins". The same place the EPU is placed, along with many other womens' health clinics.

The rage they give me is incandescent and they must be absolutely fucking thrilled with Roe v Wade - a big win for the altar eaters

Of course I wouldn't. That is not a public space.

Where they put forward their point of view is.

EVERYONE should have the right to protest and we need to be VERY vigilant on protecting this, now more than ever. Sick of people clamouring for the government to take away even more rights, encouraging even more silencing of people. It’s just wilful stupidity.
I do think it would be reasonable though to find a way of enforcing that these protests are not be held outside clinics.

They don't care about the babies.

Political protests should take place in appropriate places such as outside government buildings or speakers corner and its equivalent in various cities. Not outside hospital and clinics where sick or traumatised people are accessing care.

Quite right. These "vigils" are political activity with the intent of harassing women who are trying to access healthcare. It's NOT the same as going on a demo in a town centre which - of course - people should have the right to do, however much I may disagree with their cause.