Anti-abortion protesters have been accused of harassing women while standing in front of a health clinic, leaving patients worried.
Two men were photographed in front of the Sandford Clinic in Glasgow this afternoon, holding signs and speaking through a microphone.
Center workers were forced to move their cars and play music in a desperate attempt to silence the screaming protesters.
Campaign activists and SMEs have set the stage by renewing urgent calls for legislation on buffer zones.
Men’s signs include the words “abortion is murder,” as well as passages from the Bible.
Scottish police were present at the incident, but activists say officials have informed them they will not be able to intervene.
Men holding placards and shouting in front of Sandford Clinic (Image: @pickle_bee) Read more Related articles Read more related articles
Back Off Scotland is calling 150 million buffer zones around clinics that provide abortion services in Scotland by 2020.
A spokesman for the group told the Record: “We are horrified and devastated to see the scenes in front of the Sandford Clinic in Glasgow today.
“Sandford provides a wide range of reproductive and sexual health services, including support and counseling in rape crises.
Scottish police speak to abortion protesters (Image: @pickle_bee)
“The staff at the clinic told us that the patients were worried and could not consult on this side of the building because the screams were so loud.
“Clinicians had to stop what they were doing to move their cars out of the clinic, open the car windows and make music in an attempt to drown out the shouting.
“Nicola Sturgeon and Marie Todd are due to appear before parliament this week and set out their intentions to pass emergency legislation to tackle the problem in the short term. That can’t go on. “
Monica Lennon MSP added: “Scenes at Sandford Clinic are chilling and dangerous.
“Vulnerable rape survivors must have access to health care without confronting anti-abortion activists.
Scottish police officers at the scene (Image: @pickle_bee)
“The anti-abortion lobby is out of control in Scotland to the detriment of women and people in need of health care, as well as staff who simply do their job.
“The Scottish Government and the Scottish Police must take action.
Gillian Mackay MSP has introduced a bill to a member to introduce laws for national buffer zones, which is expected to move to the stage of public discussion next month.
She tweeted: “I contacted @PoliceScotland to ask why such a loud protest in front of a health facility was allowed to last so long.
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“The lack of action shows the urgent need for legislation to combat this harassment, so I present my bill.”
The shocking protest comes after numerous campaigns outside Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow by the American organization 40 Days to Live.
Scottish organizer Rose Doherty told a hospital clinician that the group would continue to visit the hospital every Tuesday after a 40-day “prayer vigil”, which caused outrage.
It is alleged that some of the protesters outside the Sandford Clinic left the scene shortly before 5pm, but police remained present.
A Scottish police spokesman said: “At around 13.55 on Wednesday, 11 May 2022, officers were present following reports of a protest at Sandford Place in Glasgow. Part of the group has dispersed and officers remain at the scene.
“Police Scotland is a rights-based organization that puts our values of integrity, justice, respect and commitment to human rights at the heart of everything we do.
“We have an obligation under the European Convention on Human Rights to protect the rights of people who want to protest peacefully or a counter-protest balanced against the rights of the wider community.
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