Antiabortion Protesters
By soccermom
@soccermom (3198)
United States
July 10, 2007 3:05pm CST
I am so disgusted it's not even funny. There is an organization called Face the Truth that tours our region (Northern Illinois), I'm not sure if they are national or not, but today I had it with these people!
I'm leaving for work with my 3 kids in the car and come up to the intersection and there they are. They protest abortion, and I'm all for free speech, but I am appalled that they are allowed to stand on the city's busiest intersections holding signs with graphic pictures of aborted fetuses and trying to hand out pamphlets to cars at stop lights. There has to be a better way to do this.
I told the protester that approached my vehicle to step off, my kids were traumatized enough by their graphic images and yelling. Not only did it illicit questions from my 11 year old that I just didn't need, the images they were picketing with made my 4 year old cry. She was scared to death and I'm sure I can count on being up with her when she wakes up from nightmares tonite. Even my 19 month old had an odd look on his face. Apparently these people don't think it's up to me to make the choice to decide what my kids see.
This happens in our area quite frequently, and I feel at least a warning would be nice to know where they will be located so I don't have to have my kids subjected to this. Had I known what they were going to see I would've found a different route to drop my kids off at grandmas. How do you deal with these types of "protesters"? Do I have any recourse?
5 people like this
14 responses
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
11 Jul 07
Its a Free Country, so what can we do? I don't enjoy these antiabortionists either. I'm all for Womans Rights! Women should have free choice. I don't see any recourse for You! Freedom swings both ways!
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
11 Jul 07
I don't think the original poster of this discussion was against their right to protest. Yes, it is a free country and they can protest whatever they want, it's just that they are basically forcing themselves on her and her children and traumatizing them with their graphic photos. They should be more considerate of other people.
Lots of people agree with what they are saying, as seen by the answers of many of have answered their posts, it's just the way they are doing it. You're not allowed to harass, intimidate, or traumatize people, that is not what "freedom" is.
1 person likes this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
11 Jul 07
You are so right desert. I really don't mind if they protest, as long as I have the option to not subject my kids to images that I wouldn't let them see if it were in a movie, let alone on a street corner. My 4 year old woke up 3 times last night screaming from nightmares caused by these people.
Barehugs, freedom does swing both ways. But with that freedom should also come a certain common sense as to what is and is not an appropriate way to go about things. These protesters have no effect in changing my stance on abortion, all they did was disgust me. I don't know why they feel that the shock value of their campaign would make anyone interested in the education behind it.
1 person likes this
@wrdsofwisdm (1069)
• United States
11 Jul 07
Hey neighbor, OMG that is horrendous. I saw the pics on the sight. That is outrageous. There has to be something that can be done to stop them from terrifying children in cars. I can't believe that person came up to your car. He/she had to notice you had children in the car. I would send an email to them on the site and contact your local village to see if they know what steps you can take to keep the disgusting pictures off the streets. If these protestors are so high and mighty and religious, they should protect innocent children from seeing such things and just leave the pictures in their pamphlets. It's just barbaric.
2 people like this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
11 Jul 07
I did fire off an email to their site, so far no response. I wasn't nasty, I just want a rational explanation as to why they feel these images are okay to display. If pictures like that were in a movie the movie would be rated "R" for graphic content, meaning children under 17 wouldn't be allowed to see it with without a parent, or that parents permission.
@jbb316 (1779)
• United States
10 Jul 07
I know what you mean. They bother me too. I mean I do feel that abortion is not an option for me but do they have to protest like that and be so graphic. While they are screaming about the unborn fetus' being aborted I guess they are not thinking that they are hurting the living kids with the images they have to see. And they wonder why people are so rude to them. And why do they have to be at the intersections?
2 people like this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
10 Jul 07
They claim to have signs posted saying "graphic images ahead" but obviously those are few and far between becasue I have never seen one. Here is a link to the groups site and the signs they use. For some reason the most graphic ones seem to be the only ones they use around here
http://www.prolifeaction.org/truth/signs.htm
@fpd1955 (2074)
• United States
10 Jul 07
I would think you could talk to the local authorities aout curbing their use of such graphic pictures. I looked at the link you supplied and I can see how those pictures would horrify your children...they horrified me!
I totally understand freedom of speech, but freedom to show such distasteful pictures to children is something that should be stopped.
I wonder if anti-war protesters would be stopped if they showed horrific pictures such as the maiming of women, children and men on a busy street where all children could see them!
PEACE
2 people like this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
11 Jul 07
I talked to my FIL about the situation (he was a cop for 35 years) and unfortunately there is nothing that can be done as long as they stay on public property. I can call the cops until I turn blue and it will do no good. I was told that since I know what group is doing that unfortunately the burden falls on me to check their website periodically and find out where they will be so I can avoid them. You make a good point about the anti war protesters, I bet that wouldn't be tolerated long.
@Juanamomof5 (429)
• United States
10 Jul 07
OMG, those pictures are horrible. I too believe in free speach, but you also have to respect others. If they are going to be on a busy street they have to realize children are going to see it. As a parent those images are the last thing I want in my child head. Sorry, your going to be up at night with your child's nightmares. I know mine would have them if they saw that.
2 people like this
@animejosse (256)
• Sweden
10 Jul 07
No. Just... NO. That is just disgusting. I don't mind people being against abortion as long as they're rational about it, but that is not rational at all! In fact, that kind of "protesting" is more likely to make people angry than taking their side.
2 people like this
@pendragon (3350)
• United States
11 Jul 07
Doesnt it bother you more that this sort of thing, that the images depict, happens right there?I wouldnt want my kids near that happening,the visuals are a symptom, the clinic is the source.
1 person likes this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
11 Jul 07
These protesters pick the busiest intersections in town to protest and display these images, which is nowhere near the abortion clinic. May I also add that our local abortion clinic also serves as a womens health center for women to get free or low cost birth control, pap smears, mammograms, etc..These protesters didn't picket anywhree close to the clinic.
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
11 Jul 07
You know, I'm pretty much against abortion in most cases and I agree that these people have a right to protest whatever they want, but they are way too aggressive unnecessarily. I remember one group that used to sit outside a Planned Parenthood building and would scream at every woman going inside there.
They accused this one woman (who was a bit too old to be pregnant in my view) of getting an abortion. They don't know anything about her and her husband said she was just there to get an exam. They said "oh, no, that doctor only does abortions". How do they know that they are seeing that doctor, anyway? And, Planned Parenthood doesn't only do abortions.
One time, as I rode by, someone said "don't kill your baby". Well, I have never been pregnant. That is so judgmental and I don't like that. I think it's good to stand up for what you believe in, but they shouldn't just assume that anyone that isn't in your circle is against you.
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
11 Jul 07
I am so glad I havent seen any of these protests. I think There would be a fight and my kids would have seen more that what they had on there posters . Probably mom going to jail lol.
Do thiey not think what it might do the kids in the cars that pass by? I sure hope your kids dont have nightmares about this, even as young as they are I guess you have to tell then now more of the facts of life and the idiots that runn around screaming about it with stupid pics that no one really wants to see we are grow and we know what it looks like dont need the kids to see it . I see no way you can do anything different but not go thri that crossroad again
1 person likes this
@4ftfingers (1310)
•
11 Jul 07
That's absolutely disgusting, things like that anger me too!
Fair enough they want to get their messege across but the protection of your children, and anyone elses for that matter, is much more important.
I think you should complain to someone, like your council. They must be able to do something, like make them take the pictures down at least.
Problem is, with all the PC rubbish, no one is willing or can be bothered to touch protesters.
1 person likes this
@Married2aMarine (1273)
• United States
11 Jul 07
I really don't see how this kind of protesting can ever help the situation. I don't think scaring people out of an abortion and shoving things down people's throats is the right way to go. Not to mention all the innocent bystanders like yourself and your children that are caught up in all the commotion. If these people really want to help, they should do something more useful like maybe volunteering in a shelter for single moms which is what I do. I think that has a more positive outcome and better results. We support young, pregnant women who are in a dilemma as to whether to have their babies or not..and usually, it is because they do not feel like they can provide for their babies or care for their babies enough. So, instead of just preaching "don't abort your baby!", we focus on more positive things like getting them an education, teaching them skills, parenting skills, etc and really equipping them for the situation. And more often than not, these young women do end up having their babies and are able to care for them. So, I really don't see the point in this kind of protest you mentioned. I feel like it's more of a public nuisance than anything. Is there some place like a city council where you are able to lodge a complaint? Were there not any police nearby to ensure that the situation doesn't get out of hand?
1 person likes this
@tiffthone (193)
• United States
11 Jul 07
They ought to have their ralley's at a high school and or college, for those are the top two places where most women who'd want to have an abortion are at due to the age.
1 person likes this
@amaleigh73 (499)
• United States
10 Jul 07
While I am 100% pro-life, I think this approach is very wrong. I worked for a crisis pregnancy clinic and we never resorted to graphic images - we didn't even have them in our facility and we certainly didn't stand on street corners or protest. I encountered photos like that once and I couldn't look at them, they made me sick. I'm so sorry that happened to you and your children. I would think they would have to get permission to do that, check with your county officials. It doesn't hurt to try to get something done about it.
2 people like this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
11 Jul 07
What a horrible way to start your day! I, too, am surprised that they were allowed to demonstrate in that manner! I would definitly voice a complaint to the local police dept.
It is one thing to have an opinion and quite another to shove it down anothers throat. I would imagine that even people that might agree with their stance would be offended at the way they are choosing to get their message across.
1 person likes this
