Forum Topic

Groups outside Abortion Clinic

Last week there were a group of people outside the Abortion Clinic on Mattoch Lane. However they also had dolls of babies and fetuses lined up on the pavement outside the Clinic with someone standing by the entrance.I respect peoples  freedom of speech however surely this intimidation shouldn't be allowed.Does anyone know if it's legal for those groups to act like that?

Phillip Harrison ● 3896d17 Comments

No doubt these demonstrators are convinced that they are carrying out "God's will", but they're actually ignorant uncaring bigots.

Ian D. Richardson ● 3878d

It must be a hard enough decision to feel that you have to make use of the services there.There are surely more constructive things these protesters could do to help people avoid feeling they have to go there/getting into that situation in first place. 

Philippa Bond ● 3878d

I wish the protesters would leave the clinic - its none of their business imho.

Gerry Tan ● 3885d

They are from Ealing Abbey...you know the church that covered up the child abuse and allowed a priest to continue having access to little boys?!  It's an absolute disgrace.  I asked them if they were from the Abbey and then asked them if they actually could call themselves Christian!  I had a right proper go at them as it wound me up so much.  I believe in freedom of speech but intimidating vulnerable women is not ok, especially in the name of a religion. Abortions are not ok, but buggering little boys is?!

Sally Donaldson ● 3885d

Sad demonstrators outside a sad enterprise. I see that now some people are accused of wrongdoings there.

Gerry Tan ● 3890d

It may be legal, but it is not right. It is intimidation -- and intended to be so!

Ian D. Richardson ● 3890d

Yeah well. Maybe if there were other people in Ealingwho held similarly strong convictions about othertopics, then there'd be groups of them with placards mounting 24 ht vigils outside each of Julian Bell'stwo homes. Maybe all singing "We Shall Overcome". Which would be a lot more likely to wipe the smuggrin off his fat face, than asking polite questions in the Council Chamber, or posting on websites.More especially if there were plenty of arrests with people being carried away which might even make the national news.Other vigils outside his mate Sahota's house or houses and any proposed wheelie bin depots, might be an idea too.Misguided, miserable looking, and a bit of a pain they may well be. But wimps they're not.michael adams...

Michael Adams ● 3893d

Indeed. They look like the type of women who will never be troubling the maternity ward themselves and as for the drips of men with them, don't get me started.

Nigel Brooks ● 3893d

Is it me or are the type of people who are against abortion the same type of people that refer to single mothers as sluts and harlots and in their time would have seen women pregnant out of wedlock thrown into a mental asylum?I always remonstrate with the people that stand out there when I pass them. Foul people.

Paul James ● 3893d

Ironically ?!!!

Tony Colliver ● 3895d

Thankfully for this, and thousands of other reasons, I do not live in the USA.Gerry I have witnessed the caterwauling 'wimmin' haranguing some poor woman entering the premises with cries of "shame" supported by the drips of manhood who stand with them.If they are 'people of faith' then they should show compassion and remember that in Christianity God condemns the sin not the sinner.I gather many come from Catholic 'pro-life' groups. Perhaps if they told their supposedly celibate patriarch of the existence of contraception they could spend their time more profitably.Rant over.

Nigel Brooks ● 3895d

perhaps they just want to be placenta of attention!Sorry, on a serious note they, like any of us,are entitled to their beliefs. I have seen some awful vivisection leaflets freely available.Its our choice should we choose to explore,however if its thrust in your face than thats not right.I would imagine each individual visiting the clinic is not there for fun.Catholic views, sexual abuse victims etc etc.Ironically in USA I have read of protestors killing doctors carrying out abortion proceedures

Peter Yale ● 3895d

I'm pretty sure that the woman being accosted by them don't share that rosy view re intimidation.

Tony Colliver ● 3895d

They're not really intimidating - more sad looking and mournful individuals expressing their views, which I guess is their right. They've been there for years. Ah well.

Gerry Tan ● 3896d

These sad buggers have been there for years looking mournful and intimidating the women who have made an all too often sad and lonely choice.By all means have an individual handing out a 'right to life' leaflet but this encampment is way over the top.

Nigel Brooks ● 3896d

They're a right miserable-looking lot as well.

Susan Kelly ● 3896d

I've often wondered if they're allowed to display their propaganda on the pavement.  Isn't this obstructing the footpath?Obviously we all have a right to freedom of speech - but I find this group's tactics abhorrent.  They seems deliberately designed to intimidate women entering the clinic - who are often in an extremely vulnerable state without this added extra burden, IMHO.

Thelma Leach ● 3896d