Abortion clinic protests to be banned?

[StealthPolarBear]

Really hope so, this would be a fantastic step forward
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42129222

I hope this happens, the sooner the better.

I find the whole idea of people protesting outside a clinic abhorrent. I once watched a programme based in the States whereby religious nuts were berating & goading vulnerable women at clinics, saying that there are other options yada yada. When one of the women rightly turned around & said 'are you going to adopt my baby?' they quickly shut up.

I'm pro choice; nobody has the right to tell another person what to do with their body. Freedom of speech should never be afforded to people who harass & abuse vulnerable others.

A protest outside parliament would be appropriate because that is where laws are made.

Agree with this.

Abortion is a medical procedure and, until or unless I see Jehovah's Witnesses protesting outside blood donation centres, I won't be convinced that pro-lifers' right to protest outweighs people's right to seek medical treatment peacefully and without being shouted at and guilt-tripped.

Freedom of speech does not give anyone the right to be a cunt.
These people don’t care about the baby they just care about being right & getting their own way. I don’t see many of them offering to pay for an unaboryed baby once it’s born, or come round & babysit when it wakes up 5 times a night. They should mind their own bloody business. When someone is forcing them to have an abortion they can have a say, until that point they should shut up

This would be a massive step forward, I really hope it happens.

If you want to protest against abortion, you can organise a march, start a petition or write to your MP. You don't need to harrass vulnerable women and hand out lies.

I hope this is true. You have to be a piece of shit to protest outside a clinic, knowing that whatever the reason, it’s a very difficult time for a woman.

You are allowed to say what you believe but not to scream it at a vulnerable woman.
If someone disagreed with mixed-race marriage they are free to say/ believe that, but not to go to someones wedding and protest it.
protest it in a march, protest it at court, do not protest it at a centre.

It's lazy virtue signalling.

It's far easier harassing vulnerable, often unaccompanied, women than protesting at Parliament.

I think anti-abortion protesters are collosal hypocrites. There are a whole bunch of things they could do to legitimise their cause such as:

1. With the record number of children in care / the system, these protesters don't bother adopting or fostering. If they did, perhaps the fear about having an unwanted child that will be institutionalised might be alleviated.

2. Methods of contraception haven't in scientific terms moved on much since the sixties, and hormonal contraceptives don't work for everyone. Perhaps they could protest the availability or research into alternatives.

3. Push for changes in the law so NRPs have to support their children and reduce the weaseling out of payments through going "self employed" etc. Also make the CMS fit for purpose.

4. Stop being massive bellends.

I have more but at least stopping these bullying creeps going after women around clinics would be a start.

Hampton that's such a good post I'm cut and pasting for next time this debate pops up you sum it up so well.

Especially point 4.

I can come at this from a slightly different angle, having taken part in such a protest in the past. People are confusing legitimate protest outside a clinic with harassment. They are not the same thing, although any protest has the potential to turn into harassment depending on the behavior of those taking part and how they treat any women at the clinic. While we wanted to make our voices heard at the place where it mattered, we appreciated how difficult it must be for the women at these clinics, so we were determined to hold ourselves to the highest standards. And I'm proud to say that during our protest outside the clinic, there was no harassment, no bullying, no intimidation. This is the way it should be. We can make our voices heard without being nasty. And while I am still opposed, I don't think badly of women who get an abortion. You see people accusing them of murder, I think that's complete shite. I don't agree with abortion but I know that it's a very difficult situation for the woman and she's only making the choice she feels is right for her. You can't ever fault someone for doing that. You can object to what they are doing but giving them abuse for doing what they think is right is completely unacceptable.

I would not like to see legitimate protests like ours banned, but I would like to see the kind of protests where they shout abuse and intimidate and harass women to be banned because I think those people are just hijacking a legitimate protest for their own agenda.

Why on earth do you think standing outside a clinic, where women will have to walk past you to access it, is the right place to protest the current UK abortion law?

The correct place to protest is to your MP, outside parliament and so on. Not where women are legally accessing a medical service.

How on earth do you know if the women you protested at felt harassed, bullied or intimidated? You can't possibly know that, you're simply telling yourself and others that to make yourself feel better.

A protest outside parliament would be appropriate because that is where laws are made.

This has actually changed my mind on the issue. I thought an exclusion zone was fair enough, but the poster of this is to my mind totally correct. There is no need for a protest or vigil outside a medical facility. An issue with the law should be taken up with the legislature.

^ And I'm proud to say that during our protest outside the clinic, there was no harassment, no bullying, no intimidation.^

No, a group of judgmental cunts outside a clinic isn't at all intimidating to a vulnerable woman.

Are you on fucking glue?

Fucking gall to claim pride at that.

Fuck me, that post has made me so stabby I had an italics fail.

acatcalledjohn while I may disagree with abortion, I don't judge a woman for having one. You have to appreciate they are probably making one of the most important heartbreaking decisions of their lives. They are making what they consider to be the right decision, and I won't ever judge someone for that. That's why we wanted to be respectful. That doesn't mean we agree with what they were doing, just that we weren't going to behave like some of the cunts do and shout abusive stuff at the women coming and going. That's not legitimate protest, that's hijacking a legitimate protest to be abusive.

Fuck me Topher you are absolute sum.

*Topher.
*
It does not matter if you felt that the clinic was the appropriate place to protest.

It was not appropriate. Your feelings are not** the issue. You can feel whatever you like, doesn't give you the right to harass people.

Out of curiosity, how many children have you adopted?

The onus is on you to explain why protesting outside a clinic, at the women using the service, is the right place to achieve your aim of changing the law.

It's clear from your response that you don't care if you did actually harass, bully, intimidate or upset the women using the clinic. You feel that you didn't harass them according to your definition, so that's ok as far as you're concerned. You don't actually care how the women felt.

You're also wrong about the definition of harassment. The intention is not relevant if the outcome is to intimidate and distress.

You disagree with abortion but don't judge a woman for having one, yet you are happy to stand outside a clinic and protest?

You are all shades of fucked up and more.

Those who make the law are oblivious to your protest, and those who simply exercise their right under the law are intimidated by utter scum.

Your definition makes not one but of difference. Example:

"But your honour, I didn't rape her, I simply had sex with her despite her saying no. That doesn't make it rape in my eyes."

^ If someone feels harassed because we took part in a peaceful legitimate protest where we weren't harassing anyone, that is their problem for trying to twist the meaning of the word harassment to suit their agenda. It was nice talking to you.^

Wows aren't you a goady little cunt.

God I'm angry.

Topher is a religious zealot and rational debate would be lost on them.

Topher wants to demonstrate to their deity their piety. But they have chosen the path of least resistance and any self-respecting omnipotent being wouldn't necessarily high five them for it.

Topher - can you do me favour: the next time you are communicating with your deity, can you ask why if they want braying sheep for followers, why did it cede us freewill and intellect? Also child abuse, ask it what's that about?

Btw you really shouldn't be using the Internet. Your deity probably has problems with any technology post 800AD considering texts don't usually get updated. It may smite you.

silenceisadistantmemory you are absolutely right it doesn't give us the right to harass people. That's why we didn't harass anyone during our protest. I may not agree with abortion but I think if a woman has decided to go through with it, the last thing she needs is some random guy shouting at her for it. No one should feel harassed or intimidated because other people disagree with their opinion and stage a legitimate peaceful protest. I think I'll leave it there. It's a very very controversial issue and I don't want to ruffle feathers. But I think given my views, further discussion in this topic on my part would be impossible without doing so. Nice to talk with you.

@Topher, don't you understand that your presence alone would be enough to intimidate a vulnerable woman in need of an abortion?

People like you disgust me. You come across all holier than thou but in reality you're well aware of the damage you do.