Pro-lifers in Scotland held a protest on Tuesday at Holyrood against the new “illiberal” buffer zones law. The peaceful event saw a large turnout and media coverage.
On September 24, pro-lifers gathered outside the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood to demonstrate against MSP Gillian Mackay’s Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill.
The protest was organised by SPUC, which has slammed the bill as “illiberal” and “an affront to basic freedoms in Scotland.”
The new law imposes a “buffer zone” of 200m (656ft) around abortion facilities in Scotland. All pro-life activity, even silent prayer, which is said to “influence” women attending the facility, is outlawed within the zone.
The zones will be enforced with fines of £10,000 or more.
The protest in Edinburgh was attended by supporters, some dressed in orange prison jumpsuits, brandishing signs outlining their so-called “crimes” as defined by the new law, including peacefully praying and offering help to women in crisis pregnancies
The press, including STV, also attended the high-profile demonstration.
John Mason, the only MSP to vote against buffer zone legislation, addressed the crowd of 50 people. Later, several demonstrators had the opportunity to speak with their respective MSPs.
Speaking to the crowd, SPUC’s Michael Robinson shared the story of Amy who had an abortion but wished there had been a pro-life vigil outside to offer life-saving help.
“To remove people from praying outside clinics, just isolates women who are having a crisis,” Amy says. “That might be the only opportunity they had to speak to anyone who could offer them real counseling. And that is the last step before it is too late.”