Forum Topic

Mattock Lane

I am sure I am not alone in finding the continued camping of an anti-abortion group outside the PLANNED Parenthood Clinic in Mattock Lane very distressing.  The very vulnerable women attending the Clinic are harassed as they go in and subject to pressure and blame.   Whatever people's views on abortion, this kind of harassment is unacceptable.

Sarah Michie ● 3126d27 Comments

Letter to the GazetteI consider your November 17 coverage of Rupa Huq's campaign against the Mattock Lane protesters to be grossly unbalanced.   First the street has never become impassable. It is wide with a wide verge too. I have never seen protesters there. Friends have sometimes seen them but the problem seem exaggerated.   But the real imbalance is failure to present the other side of the argument as an MP related at the Westminster Hall debate. He read a letter from woman who on going to the clinic for an abortion was quietly handed a leaflet offering an alternative. She left the clinic and had the baby, now a healthy three year old. So good may come from opposition to terminations.

Graham Weeks ● 2996d

Not sure whether they are there permanently buy yesterday there was a small group of counter-protestors lobbying for womens' rights not to be subjected to intimadation when they go to such clinics.

Philip Coe ● 3110d

'We should not presume to tell people how to think!' So you would want to stop OFSTED telling schools what to teach on sexuality? You will defend my right to define marriage in contradiction of the SSM legislation?

Graham Weeks ● 3112d

I once went to the clinic as part of my work (was working in admin for a GP's surgery) and I found the protesters intimidating - obviously they thought I was going for an abortion and tried to give me literature and talk to me.  When I told them I was going about my business they wanted to know what business that was!I don't object to protest, but there should definitely be a large, clear, demarcation area free of protesters and their literature which allows people to approach and enter the clinic without having to thread a path through "protesters".There is plenty of available advice, information and support about the choices a pregnant woman can take, and she should be allowed to ask for the help she wants and not have advice thrust upon her.  We should not presume to tell people how to think!

Barbara Dore ● 3113d

Thanks for the politically correct sexism and misandry. Do you have anything intelligent to contribute to this discussion?

Vlod Barchuk ● 3114d

LibbyReally?Do remember to remind me to let the door slam in your face!What a nonsensical point you make

Paul Gibbs ● 3114d

Yes Libby, If there was a vote my view is that women should only be able to vote on this subject. However we have debated on the broader implications of what this could mean for "peaceful protest". a difficult subject.

Peter Chadburn ● 3115d

Simply a female issue?  Is immaculate conception back in fashion?  And I am not siding with the protesters in the slightest but surely the male has a right to offer an opinion even if the female has final word?

Philip Coe ● 3115d

It is interesting in that apart from the female who made the opening post all the subsequent posts are from males my gut reaction is: but out boys, this is a female issue. And this goes for all the judgemental males who stand outside the clinic making the women who are entering the building feel very uneasy.

Libby Kemp ● 3115d

Yes Graham, sadly with the states it is difficult to find the truth. i saw an interview with a girl whose baby was adopted after planned parenthood helped her. always very emotive. I am always torn on this as i dont like abortion but then i see the suffering that some women go through in relationships and with families i feel that it is better to have good advice and help to deal with these problems rather than backstreet abortions. i find some of the american opponents rather unrealistic in dealing with the problems, and some of the "christian?" opposition i find totally lacking in any grace or love that should come from anyone who believes in Jesus.

Peter Chadburn ● 3116d

PP helps with adoption? The group accused of selling body parts?

Graham Weeks ● 3118d

This i believe is the centre of the matter and where some mediation needs to take place. The signs that accuse women of murdering their unborn child that you see in some demonstrations are not helpful. also murders of staff at clinics in the states show this. but in the us the planned parenthood organisation helps women to give up children for adoption as well. yet they are under pressure from Trump and the Taliban like politicians. It is very sad that women in a crisis are put under even more pressure.

Peter Chadburn ● 3119d

Can anyone tell me what "Rosmary Beads" are? And how do you play with them?

Brian Conneller ● 3119d

I don't believe that there is an intent to intimidate but that the mere consequence of their presence can be viewed as intimidatory.To convey their message it would take no more than an individual to hand over a leaflet.

Paul Gibbs ● 3120d

In your opinion is the aim of these protesters the intimidation of women going for abortions or is intimidation an incidental effect of their protest?

Graham Weeks ● 3120d

See the front page, they are moving on to intimidate women in Acton.

Paul Gibbs ● 3120d

This is a tricky one because to deny them their right to free speech could be used to deny us all our freedom of expression. However a vulnerable person should be free from the fear of intimidation. that is the tricky bit. they may not intimidate but if a person fears that they might intimidate then that causes a problem.

Peter Chadburn ● 3122d

" bitter and spiteful people who simply can't stand the fact that not everyone shares their world view or moral compass."Sums them up well.

Paul Gibbs ● 3122d

I have passed through Mattock Lane many times and have never seen any intimidation or aggressive behavior by these protesters. In fact they are the very model of peaceful protest, all they do is mumble their prayers,play with rosmary beads and offer leaflets to people entering or leaving the building and accept any decline with good grace.It is impossible to protest any more peacefully than that.There is at present an online petition to have them removed from the area.Whilst I don't believe in a god or believe in killing unborn babies I certainly do believe in free speech and the right to peaceful protest and this petition is nothing more than an attack on all our civil liberties by bitter and spiteful people who simply can't stand the fact that not everyone shares their world view or moral compass.

Bob Little ● 3122d

They are very careful not to 'cross the line' of the, rather loose, definition under the Act but there is no denying that their presence alone can be intimidatory not to mention their 'thrusting' of their supposedly religious tracts into the hands of the (largely) vulnerable women attending this clinic.

Paul Gibbs ● 3122d

Again, I point out that harassment is illegal, report any instances to the police. How many Mattock Lane anti-abortion protesters have been cautioned, arrested, charged or convicted for harassment under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997?

Vlod Barchuk ● 3122d

I see the every morning & I believe there has been an undercover tv sting to catch their harassment. They seem to appear from a house opposite

Peter Yale ● 3124d

"Otherwise, your complaint is just a thinly veiled attempt to prevent legal peaceful assembly and protest by people whose views you disagree with."It's not peaceful protest. They harass people going into the clinic.

Paul James ● 3125d

There is an Ealing charity offering pregnancy support. http://choicesealing.org

Graham Weeks ● 3125d

Emotive and misleading language. We've seen 'camping' across the borough in recent weeks and it hasn't been in Mattock Lane. What evidence is there of a campsite outside the clinic? Have protesters left rubbish outside the clinic or caused damage requiring the clinic or the Council to spend money clearing it up?Harassment is a criminal offence. If you have evidence that protesters have broken the law notify the police. Otherwise, your complaint is just a thinly veiled attempt to prevent legal peaceful assembly and protest by people whose views you disagree with.

Vlod Barchuk ● 3126d

I personally do not like abortion, but feel that only women are the ones in difficult circumstances who have a right to decide. They need space and care at a difficult emotional time. I am sure that many clinics will offer gentle counsel. But the choice to come to a clinic can be tough and many women do it reluctantly. I believe as a Christian we must treat people with kindness and that the US inspired pro-life movement has very unpleasant and distinctly non-christian attitudes. Whilst it is important to preserve the right to demonstrate in these cases harassment is totally wrong. Maybe they would be better off setting up and advice and assistance centre to help women in desperate circumstances generally.

Peter Chadburn ● 3126d

So what is the law concerning picketing outside an abortion clinic?

Graham Weeks ● 3126d