Eyewitness: Both sides of the divide on abortion gather at Parliament Square 

Chris Hobbs attends the annual pro-life, anti-abortion protests.

The annual pro-life, anti-abortion gathering at the Emmanuel Centre has become a yearly event which is predictably opposed by right to choose, pro-abortion activists.

On arrival at Westminster Station, I made my way to the Statues/Supreme Court end of Parliament Square where the mainly female gathering of the right to choose/pro-abortion counter-protest had assembled.

A five-minute walk away, at the rear of Emmanuel Hall, a march was assembling that looked far larger than the march I saw last year. The marchers set off and reached Millbank before passing Parliament Square where the organisers had assembled a large stage and screen.

I wrongly anticipated that the march would simply turn left onto Parliament Square for their rally but I was wrong. A number of pro-Choice activists at the Supreme Court end ran across and occupied the space in front of the stage in an apparent attempt to frustrate and confront the pro-Life protesters. The ruse failed as to my and their surprise. the march continued past Parliament Square and along Whitehall. About two-thirds of the way up Whitehall, the march turned around and headed back to Parliament Square.

On returning to Parliament Square I was surprised to find that the grassed area or rather the scorched earth area, was crowded with pro-Life supporters who were then joined by the marchers.

Lively exchanges

The Supreme Court end was still largely populated by the now very vocal ‘right to choose’ counter-protesters who were partially segregated from the pro-Life activists by large sheets showing colourful images of foetuses.

There were some lively exchanges between the two groups and most of the single Met police serial assigned formed a cordon between the two. The pro-choice group were to spend much of the afternoon chanting; their favourite was; ‘Get your rosaries off our ovaries.’

Despite the police presence, which was later increased, a number of pro-life supporters mingled with the pro-choice activists and frank exchanges of views took place. On one occasion a youthful individual, well known for his  right wing views, deposited himself amidst the right to choose activists, some of whom were holding anti-racist placards. As he unfurled a banner, disorder inevitably broke out resulting in police intervening and dragging out this individual who later stated that he was arrested, detained but not charged.

Meanwhile, pro-life speeches and sermons continued from the stage as a small smartly dressed contingent of males carrying religious emblems, placed themselves within feet of the pro-choice activists as if attempting to intimidate them. If that was the objective, it failed.

The tensions between the two groups were clearly evident throughout the afternoon resulting in the occasional ‘flare-up.’ One police sergeant however moved quietly amongst the crowds defusing several confrontations.

The afternoon ended with a female singer on the pro-life stage which was the cue for both sides to begin drifting away without any further confrontation.

 Chris Hobbs is a former Special Branch officer who follows protests as an observer for Police Oracle.

Category: Public Order