Abort 67 "intimidating protests" outside Blackfriars/London clinic

[cantsin]

just read this , but been going on for last couple of weeks it seems - first I've heard of US style ( + US funded) bigots doing this stuff in London - can't find anything about oppo to them, just petitions etc - no one wants to see moody / confrontational counter demos outside abortion clinics, but a Policewoman is quoted as saying "this is the first time they've come close to shutting a practise down" - which would be v alarming .

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/lond...imidating-protests-at-gp-surgery-9836271.html

 

[Pickman's model]

if the police wanted to they could deal with this under the poa, setting conditions on the assembly.

 

[Ax^]

i know for a fact if animal right protesters appear outside a shipping company with more than 2 members and have not informed the police they will be moved on

wtf "limited power's"

 

[Sea Star]

years ago I was leafleting outside a McDonalds on my own on a very wide pavement with hardly any people around. It took about half an hour before the police turned up and threatened to arrest me for "obstructing the pavement". So stuff likes this says to me that the police are very much politically motivated.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Scumbags.

 

[cantsin]

i know for a fact if animal right protesters appear outside a shipping company with more than 2 members and have not informed the police they will be moved on

wtf "limited power's"

seems ridiculous when you think of it in those terms - having said that, am not sure pushing for police to restrict their rights to be there would be helpful in the long term for obvious reasons. Physical show of support for the clinic and the service it provides might be.

 

[8ball]

These people know exactly what they can and cannot get away with and will quote the law chapter and verse to the police if challenged. The police tend to rely on ignorance of the law and easy compliance when they want to just move people on.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

seems ridiculous when you think of it in those terms - having said that, am not sure pushing for police to restrict their rights to be there would be helpful in the long term for obvious reasons. Physical show of support for the clinic and the service it provides might be.

What rights? The right to harass and provoke women and girls making a really tough decision?

Fuck that. The rights of the women to be allowed into the clinic in peace trump any right they might have to be there.

 

[Pickman's model]

What rights?

so people's right to protest flies out the window when you disgree with them. are you prepared to put your money where your mouth is and arrange or attend a counter-demonstration?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

so people's right to protest flies out the window when you disgree with them. ?

Did you even read my post? There are two kinds of right, broadly - the right to act, and the right not to be acted upon. In this case, the right of the women not to be acted upon by these wankers is the one I'm more concerned about.

 

[Pickman's model]

Did you even read my post? There are two kinds of right, broadly - the right to act, and the right not to be acted upon. In this case, the right of the women not to be acted upon by these wankers is the one I'm more concerned about.

i simply stated your pov, that people's right to protest flies out the window when you disagree with them.

now, are you prepared to do something about it by, for instance, attending or organising a counter-demonstration, or are you a lightweight larry, happy only to snipe from behind a computer?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

i simply stated your pov, that people's right to protest flies out the window when you disagree with them.

That's not my point of view.

Fuck me, you're a twat sometimes.

 

[Pickman's model]

That's not my point of view.

Fuck me, you're a twat sometimes.

that's ok, you're a twat all the time.

now, pleasantries aside, we all know people have a well-established right to protest. you say they don't, for (frankly) no better reason than you disagree with them in this instance.

now, are you prepared to do anything about it or are you not prepared to put your money where your mouth is?

 

[cantsin]

i simply stated your pov, that people's right to protest flies out the window when you disagree with them.

now, are you prepared to do something about it by, for instance, attending or organising a counter-demonstration, or are you a lightweight larry, happy only to snipe from behind a computer?

(am in the smoke every other week , and wld deffo want to attend a demo , either v early doors or after work - tho realise you're not looking to organise one , any more than i am, just putting it out there )

 

[Pickman's model]

(am in the smoke every other week , and wld deffo want to attend a demo , either v early doors or after work - tho realise you're not looking to organise one , any more than i am, just putting it out there )

in the spirit of not organising a protest let's find out when they're not protesting outside the clinic and not call a counter-demonstration for when they're not there.



or not even a counter-demonstration, let's not have a picnic in the street when they're not there.

 

[cantsin]

That's not my point of view.

Fuck me, you're a twat sometimes.

(no need for this to go off on a 1 vs 1 ding dong tangent here, we're all on the same bigger page )

 

[cantsin]

y

in the spirit of not organising a protest let's find out when they're not protesting outside the clinic and not call a counter-demonstration for when they're not there.



or not even a counter-demonstration, let's not have a picnic in the street when they're not there.

deffo, count me out

 

[Athos]

that's ok, you're a twat all the time.

now, pleasantries aside, we all know people have a well-established right to protest. you say they don't, for (frankly) no better reason than you disagree with them in this instance.

now, are you prepared to do anything about it or are you not prepared to put your money where your mouth is?

In fairness, he explained that their right to protest was trumped by the women's right to peace. It's not a sentient with which I necessarily agree, but it's different from saying that their right to protest ought to be curtailed because he doesn't agree with them.

I'm sure we can all agree that these people are cunts, though. I guess the real question is how to respond. I don't know whether the drama of a counter-demo will put the women attending at ease. But, I have to admit being at a loss to think of anything better.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

In fairness, he explained that their right to protest was trumped by the women's right to peace. It's not a sentient with which I necessarily agree, but it's different from saying that their right to protest ought to be curtailed because he doesn't agree with them.

I'm sure we can all agree that these people are cunts, though. I guess the real question is how to respond. I don't know whether the drama of a counter-demo will put the women attending at ease. But, I have to admit being at a loss to think of anything better.

I wouldn't frame the thing in terms of 'rights' at all, tbh. It was a response to another poster. Sometimes people can become so twisted up by a logic discussion involving rights that they forget what is important, what is the decent and compassionate thing to do. Here, what is important above all is the wellbeing of the women using the clinic. That's what I'm concerned about.

 

[killer b]

I don't necessarily agree they're cunts - I think that, were I convinced that abortion were the murder of a baby - a conclusion which I can understand someone coming to, even if I disagree - then I might be moved to campaign against it.

They probably are cunts though, tbf.

 

[Pickman's model]

In fairness, he explained that their right to protest was trumped by the women's right to peace. It's not a sentient with which I necessarily agree, but it's different from saying that their right to protest ought to be curtailed because he doesn't agree with them.

I'm sure we can all agree that these people are cunts, though. I guess the real question is how to respond. I don't know whether the drama of a counter-demo will put the women attending at ease. But, I have to admit being at a loss to think of anything better.

we all want these xians and that to fuck off. but you can't imo say they can't protest because it's not nice when i'm sure most of us would support some sort of similar protest elsewhere (that is, for example, a protest outside a council leader or mp's house or outside a building where the social tenants are treated as second class citizens).

 

[Pickman's model]

I wouldn't frame the thing in terms of 'rights' at all, tbh. It was a response to another poster. Sometimes people can become so twisted up by a logic discussion involving rights that they forget what is important, what is the decent and compassionate thing to do. Here, what is important above all is the wellbeing of the women using the clinic. That's what I'm concerned about.

and so far concern's all you've shown, you don't seem concerned enough to initiate or support a course of action to show your sympathy to the women concerned.

they have, as cantsin said, a right to protest there. whether you like it or not.

 

[Plumdaff]

We have problems in Cardiff occassionally with pro life groups although the police here do make them protest across the street, and the department store across the street isn't keen either. The counter demos are very deliberately when the clinic isn't open so it doesn't add to the distress of anyone attending.

 

[Athos]

we all want these xians and that to fuck off. but you can't imo say they can't protest because it's not nice when i'm sure most of us would support some sort of similar protest elsewhere (that is, for example, a protest outside a council leader or mp's house or outside a building where the social tenants are treated as second class citizens).

I agree. It's a slippery slope. I think there ought to be better response, but, as I said, I'm not sure what it is.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

The counter demos are very deliberately when the clinic isn't open so it doesn't add to the distress of anyone attending.

Yep, good plan.

 

[8ball]

Yep, good plan.

Also more convenient for the pro-life protesters.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Also more convenient for the pro-life protesters.

Perhaps. But first do no harm.

 

[8ball]

Perhaps. But first do no harm.

Not at the expense of doing no good.

 

[SpookyFrank]

if the police wanted to they could deal with this under the poa, setting conditions on the assembly.

They have no problem doing so with protests held by non-wankers for genuine causes.

 

[Yelkcub]

They probably are cunts though, tbf.

Religious. The worst.