Confrontation at the East Melbourne Fertility Clinic, 26 April

For the last few years there has been a standoff on the fourth Saturday of each month with pro-choice activists occupying the footpath outside the East Melbourne Fertility Clinic in order to prevent anti-abortionists from blocking access and harrassing those attempting to enter. Recently, for the most part the Helpers of God's Precious Infants, as they call themselves, have contented themselves with holding  a service on the far side of the road opposite the clinic and then leaving in procession by the way they had come. This time, however, they arrived by a different route and much later than usual, and on the clinic side of the road, only crossing at the last moment. At the end of their service they set off apparently as usual, but then crossed back to the clinic side, and, instead of leaving, reformed and headed back towards the clinic, which was defended this month by the sole security guard and only four pro-choice activists. In spite of their far greater numbers, however, the HoGPI failed to dislodge the defence, and left as they had come. But no doubt they will be back.
This short video records the confrontation; as far as possible the faces of children have been obscured and two short segments are blurred for the same reason.

The anti-choice bigots are upping the ante. It is vital that the pro-choice majority turns out in big numbers at 10 am on 24 May to defend the Fertility Control Clinic. Anti-abortion activists are dangerous. They murdered a worker at this clinic who was employed as a security guard. If they are not confronted, they will be emboldened and become more menacing. I'll be there and I urge every other person who sees this footage, lives in Melbourne and believes in a woman's right to choose to be there too. Together, we can stop them!

I don't wish to enter into an argument about abortion. I do wish to say that the footage shows a peaceful group protesting against something they believe is wrong. They have a right to do so. Also, be careful about lumping all pro lifers into one boat. Some are right wing conservatives and others are left wing radical anarchists who uphold the sacredness of life. Many pro lifers uphold a consistent ethic of life - that is opposition to all violence be it war, abortion, capital punishment, WMD, the arms trade, domestic violence etc. I think you would find that concern for social justice and equality are high amongst pro lifers.

Thats pretty disgusting.  Harassing and filming people going to the doctor is very low, their bodies are none of your business. What next? will you follow them home or harass them at work?

Take your message elsewhere.

Protesting against women removing a few cells from their body. Lame.

There is the question of when an embryo becomes a person.

There is the question of at what stage of pregnancy abortions should not be allowed unless under critical circumstances.

How many women get to the ninth month of pregnancy and think "time to get an abortion"? Not many, if any, I would imagine.

If your problem with abortion has to do with the soul  entering the embryo, please GTFO, your beleif belongs in the 19th century.

And of course, it's a good source of embryonic stem cells, which might save your pro-lifing ass one day.

I have been to clinic defense and I will go again. I feel strongly that people entering/leaving an abortion clinic should not be harassed, but I feel a little wierd defending a private hospital.

Hi all, the good folks from GrodsCorp are gathering a bunch of people to protest against the disgusting methods used by the pro-lifers.

Please contact me for info or to give us info. general_bron AT hotmail DOT com

Cheers.

Even if the embryo DOES have a right to life (which I believe it doesn't), a women's right to control the functions of her own body supercedes any such right.

Here is a video of the 24 May rally at the East Melbourne clinic.