Stand Up for Choice 25: Defying the Bigots

Thank you to everyone who came and stood with us in Parliament Square on Saturday at our counter protest against the annual anti-abortion ‘March for Life’.

Once again the March for Life brought all the sections of the anti-abortion movement in Britain together under one banner, from religious groups, to the far right and newer anti-abortion organisations. 

March for Life sidelined by police

The bigots were marginalised this year, forced to meet in the street, because of the mass Defend our Juries protest that was taking place in Parliament Square itself, many who had come to support that demonstration also stopped to express their support for the Abortion Rights protest.

But the March for Life’s banners, slogans and speeches were as offensive as they are each year, which is why Abortion Rights never lets them march unopposed. We have been organising these counter protests for a decade. 

This year was as important as ever.

Influence from Reform UK

We know the anti-abortion movement has gained confidence from the successful attacks on reproductive rights in the US. We also recognise the threat posed by Nigel Farage and his Reform Party – Farage has declared that the abortion time limit is too high and that is only where attacks would start. March for Life’s slogan is their ultimate aim: ‘From conception, no exception’.

We stood up for choice

The Stand up for Choice was angry and joyful, speakers (see below) included trade unionists, doctors and activists and our team of volunteer stewards did a brilliant job of making the protest a fantastic success. Speakers talked about the need for abortion to be treated as healthcare, the danger posed by the rise of the far right in Britain and the growing influence of funding and political support from the US.  

Prochoice campaigners brought homemade placards and banners, including a group of pro-choice campaigners from Cambridge who travelled to join the protest. The protest was also joined by a delegation from the teachers’ union, the NEU. 

We are the majority!

When the March for Life finally arrived at their stage in the street, Abortion Rights protesters lined up the whole stretch of the wall beside their rally with pro-choice banners and placards. Everyone, young and old kept up non-stop chanting to drown out their speeches. Videos of the anti-abortion rally show how loud our side was and how much our protest and pro-choice chanting disrupted it.

We didn’t stop until the anti-abortion rally shut down and everyone rallied together at the end behind the statue of Ghandi, uplifted by an afternoon standing together to defend reproductive rights. 

If you would like to show your support for our campaigning, please join Abortion Rights here or make a donation. Plus do subscribe to our weekly Newsletter to find out about future activities.

Speakers at Stand up for Choice 2025

Kerry Abel: Abortion Rights Chair

Judith Orr: Abortion Rights Vice Chair and Author.

Dr. Sonia Adesara: Doctors for Choice

Charli Patel: Women’s Officer Camden UNISON 

Fiona Sim: co-founder of the Black Liberation Alliance 

Mairead Canavan: National Education Union, national officer

Sophia Beach: Women against the Far Right 

Cloe Sarah Jewell: Reproductive Rights Activist Collective

Marianne Owens: PCS Union Vice President send a message of support from the union.