Pro Choice Campaign Report

by Pro Choice Activis Sun Jan 28, 2007 21:23

Hi,

I have to say this was an excellent event. Full credit to Labour Youth for organising this event and bringing us all together. It goes to show what can be achieved when people put their political differences aside and co-operate where they can.

I think the follow up in Seomra Spraoi is crucial if the campaign is to continue generating momentum.

by Graham Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:58

Congrats to all involved. As has been pointed out the real success here is the coming together of activists from disparate backgrounds on this vital issue.

by Sarah - labour youth Thu Feb 01, 2007 18:42

i'm new to the whole active pro choice thing, so i was delighted to be at meeting on saturday. i did hear one guy shouting some thing about "pro abortion" which is fair enough because it was advertised as an open meeting so people should be able to express their opinion no matter what it is. however i have to say i was turned offt the whole thing when i saw this guy been manhandled and kicked and shoved out of the room and down the stairs. whats the story with that?

by Not Easily Fooled Thu Feb 01, 2007 18:48

I doubt if you were at the meeting. So you think that people should be able to shout and disrupt meetings? Thats your idea of freedom of speech? How do you think the meeting could have conducted its business with someone exercising their free speech by shouting throuhout the seminar?

The YD disrupter was not kicked. However in the recent past YD have attacked Pro Choice events and assaulted people. That will not be allowed to happen again.

by Sarah - Labour Youth Thu Feb 01, 2007 19:06

Actually he was. I saw it with my own eyes, The Gardai were called, a complaint was made with witnesses. What did the hotel manager say about this assualt? I think you'll find she was also present and equally as shocked as I was. I have to say this has really made me not want to attend another of these meetings or have an association with violence of any kind.
If we all stand for so called human rights then we need to respect each other and not lower ourselves to that level. When you say Yd do you mean youth defence? as i said im new to this.

by Utterly cynical Thu Feb 01, 2007 20:04

Yeah yeah whatever - can we get anyone from Labour Youth to testify whether they know a "Sarah" or not? A YD thug came into the meeting to disrupt it and intimidate those taking part, he started shouting abuse at people, so he was ejected. Good thing YD are too small these days to attack pro-choice meetings with hurleys and baseball bats - all they can do know is whine behind fake names on the Internet

by Jane Fri Feb 02, 2007 12:13

I don't know anyone called Sarah in LY. That is not to say that she's definitely not a member, but if she is then I don't know her.

Just a few comments regarding the incident last Saturday ..

Sarah, the meeting was a pro choice meeting, for pro choice activists. This was displayed clearly on all the literature and expressly pointed out at the start. It was not a debate on the merits or lack thereof of abortion services. The man who attempted to disrupt the meeting was demonstrably not pro choice. Would you not then agree that it would have been inappropriate, counterproductive, and indeed stupid, for him to stay?

Also - it's easy to talk about freedom of speech. Do you think if I turned up to a Youth Defence meeting, or even a meeting of another pro life group, and then tried to argue that instead the organisation should be pro choice, and THEN, when I was told it wasn't the place for a debate, started shouting abuse at all the members and disrupting the meeting, that I would be allowed to stay by the members of the group because of "freedom of speech"? It is more than slightly ridiculous to try and use this argument to defend the actions of the YD member on Saturday.

Lastly, I don't think discussing this at too much length is a good idea because it gives thugs like YD too much oxygen..

by Labour youth Fri Feb 02, 2007 18:03

Just to inform everyone there is no Sarah in LY, this person is troling

by legal twaddle gurggle give those kids an education so they - understand "their ideas". Fri Feb 02, 2007 18:33

& have been refined or expanded since - but so far no-one has thought to include in the rules "the right not to be kicked or a victim of violence". In fact the propitious use of violence gave birth to & has sustained those rights. Granted we do legislate on violence (partner abuse etc.,) but our core & first right as westerners (meaning it historically extended to slave, woman, freeman or citizen) is the right to "self-defence" up to and including homocide in response to an invasive "in flagrante" offence.

by (A) Fri Feb 02, 2007 19:43

That idiot bible-bashing maniac was handled with a lot of restraint by about 5-6 people,one of whom was myself.
HHe was asked nicely to leave and refused,continuously shouting "murderers" etc with a wide-eyed look that would put the fear of God into ya!
He was fortunate not to have been treated with the same level of disrespect his organisation has treated pro-choice activists in the past.
Raving lunatics,havent they got mass to go to or something??

by Jane Wed Feb 07, 2007 14:33

***NEXT PLANNING MEETING, February 18th, Seomra Spraoi, 6pm. Seomra Spraoi is a social space on Ormand Quay, directly opposite the Clarence Hotel on the north side of the Liffey. It is beside a property agents and has a big blue door. Press the button marked "Artist seomra" and you will be let in.***

Notes from Sat and an overview for those who couldn't make
it.

One of the decisions was that groups should be set up to cover each
of the planned actions.
These groups are given below.

Rogue agencies
It was decided that more information would be needed before we could go
ahead with the action. This will be collected by the "Rogue" group. – contact b_corndog AT hotmail.com

It was felt the stands in the city as well as leafleting outside the
clinics was a good idea but some felt street theatre outside the Rogue
agencies would be too much for women who were in a crisis situation.

Mentioned was a Limerick clinic which is very active and particularly
bad, and it was suggested some could volunteer to contact the LU SU re
an action there also. They
will be meeting over the next week – please contact by email for location and time. – faganaimee AT gmail.com

Postcards
The consensus was that this would be somewhat futile and take too much
time and too much of our limited resources to do. If it were to have an
impact, election time would not be the best time. It was decided that
the money raised and to be raised would be better spent on
poster/stickers ect to raise the awareness level among the general
public. To this end a communications & media group was set up.

If you want to get involved in this group, mail aoifemc48 AT hotmail.com.

This group will also be focusing on web/events/materials etc

Coming from the discussion on postcards it was felt a letter writing
group would be a better focus. This group will be responding to letters
in papers, posing questions and also contacting TD's ect regarding the
issue of abortion.
Contact Louise to join – louisecaffrey21 AT gmail.com

International Womens Day

International Womens Day was discussed and a plan for the days events
and bringing the focus onto reprouctive rights. Plans for the day
included
Rogue agencies action
Joining the event at the mansion house
Highlighting Berties failure to legislate for X
Women who have had abortions "coming out" about their experiences.
Evening entertainment in Wynns hotel
The Alliance For Choice has a pro-choice IWD event in the Mansion House
more details from theallianceforchoice AT eircom.net
If anyone has further information on events for IWD or ideas, be sure
to let others know.

Legislate for X
There is a plan to launch legislation for X on the 4th or 5th of March
There is legislation already drawn up and could be a focus
for pro choice groups to meet and highlight that it has been 15 years
since the X case. March 5th marks the 15th anniversary of the X Case Supreme Court decision.

Contact Richie for more info prochoicedub AT eircom.net

6 Counties
Draft Guidance for Health Care professionals has been issued in Northern Ireland.
There is an eight week consultation period with a deadline of March 16th.
Pro-choice individuals and groups in Northern Ireland are invited to send comments on the draft guidelines which can
be viewed at http://www.nics.gov.uk/press/hss/070116h-hss.htm http://www.nics.gov.uk/press/hss/guidance.pdf

There will be a Pro-Choice demo in London in on March 3rd , It was suggested support statements could be sent to the
Abortion Rights campaign ( www.abortionrights.org.uk )

Contact Richie for more info prochoicedub AT eircom.net

LGBT
Support for the Pro Choice groups has been forthcoming from the LGBT community, and it was decided to try and garner more support and involvement from relevant groups. There was a working group set up.

More info or to get involved contact Eoin – eoin.farrelly AT gmail.com

Also it became apparent people wanted a Direct Action Group set up to help individuals and be a more "active" element. Those involved in this group aren't going to be named, but to get involved in this group contact Beatrice. – b_corndog AT hotmail.com

There are sub groups which are working on different elements which can be discussed.

There is another meeting planned for Sunday 18th for the whole group and any people who want to get involved in Seomra Spraoi at 6 pm. Please try to come along.

Each of the groups will be meeting before this time to discuss the individual pieces of work and will report back on the 18th. Contact is through those named above.

by Marlboro man Tue Feb 13, 2007 10:34

The man was ejected with as much reasonable force that was necessary to remove an extremely disruptive and clearly unhinged individual who was not there to debate the issue but to bible thump and instill fear.

He refused to leave when asked, politely, and as is standard was then ejected.

You would have us believe he was beaten and abused which is simply untrue.

If you have a problem with the issue at least have the courage to make your point on this basis and not try to legitimise your cause by accusation and under guise