Poll: 82% of Scots want end to abortion clinic protests

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New polling commissioned by The Humanist Society Scotland finds widespread opposition to anti-choice protests outside healthcare facilities providing abortions.

Jillian Merchant, Abortion Rights Vice Chair Said:

‘Protesting outside hospitals and sexual health clinics where women are accessing vital healthcare services, in a variety of different situations, has no place in a modern Scotland.’

‘Whatever the situation or reason for women seeking healthcare she should not have to run a gauntlet of alternative facts and ideological judgment.’

These hardline protesters would like to see abortion outlawed altogether and aren’t afraid of letting women trying to enter clinics know their views – from displaying large pictures supposedly showing aborted foetuses, to filming women outside clinics to directly confronting patients and staff.

We believe that these tactics constitute intimidation and harassment and that no reasonable person, regardless of their views on abortion, should be willing to support such behaviour, which is supported by the findings in the recent poll.

Abortion Rights offers its solidarity to the clinic staff and women attending the affected clinics, and joins the calls buffer zones- action must be taken to tackle harassment outside clinics

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Notes to the Editor:

Media contact for comment and interviews Jillian Merchant (07969691618)

1. 82% of Scots demand an end to clinic protests https://www.humanism.scot/what-we-do/news/82-of-scots-demand-end-to-protests-outside-abortion-clinics/

2. More than 75% of Scots are in favour of supporting abortion. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/family-relationships/scots-back-womens-right-choose-6154265

3. Abortion Rights has a Scottish Committee and local groups around Scotland. http://abortionrights-org-uk.stackstaging.com/category/local-groups/abortion-rights-committee-scotland/

4. Abortion Rights is the UK’s national campaign for a woman’s right to choose on abortion.

5. Protests outside abortion clinics have become increasingly widespread in recent years.