March for Life: Activists to stage counter-protests to anti-abortion demo in central London

Anti-abortion and pro-choice marches will be held in central London this weeked
AFP/Getty Images
Sophie Williams5 May 2018

A pro-choice movement has hit out against an anti-abortion march scheduled for this weekend.

The Abortion Rights group said: "Although 'March for Life' try to present a shiny, family friendly appearance, in reality, it is made up of extreme anti-women outside abortion clinics."

The pro-choice movement said it was organising a counter protest in a "peaceful suffragette style" to counter the March for Life. Labour MP Stella Creasy will speak at the March for Choice organised by the Abortion Rights group.

The March for Life is set to take place on Saturday at 1.30pm and finishes at Parliament Square.

On Facebook, 250 people have confirmed they will be attending while over 400 others have pledged an interest.

The march will include speeches by members of the March for Life group followed by a prayer vigil.

Pro-life demonstrators ahead of the key vote by Ealing Council
PA

Kerry Abel, chair of Abortion Rights told the Standard that some of those associated with March for Life have links with Britain First and "shouldn't come to a day they call the fight for life".

In response, March for Life UK told the Standard: "March for Life UK is an organisation that works to bring together various pro-life groups around the country as well as raising awareness of the hurt and damage abortion causes.

"The pro-life groups who we connect with work in different ways to provide help and support to women/couples in crisis pregnancy situations (during pregnancy and beyond, for as long as they need it) as well as help for those who suffer after abortions."

Last month a west London council became the first in the UK to implement an exclusion zone outside a local abortion clinic.

Pro-choice demonstrators gathering outside the Marie Stopes clinic on Mattock Lane
PA

Staff at the Marie Stopes clinic said their clients had been harassed by groups who stand on the footpath outside the facility.

The marches come just weeks ahead of a referendum in Ireland on the eighth amendment.

Ireland goes to the polls on May 25. They will be asked whether they want to retain the eighth amendment of the constitution which gives equal rights to the mother and her unborn child.

The current law, introduced in 1983, does not allow for abortions in cases of rape, incest or foetal abnormality.

If the amendment was given the go-ahead, the Government would then table draft legislation that would allow for unrestricted abortion up to 12 weeks into pregnancy.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: "For my part I will advocate a yes vote. My own views have evolved over time - life experience does that."

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