Image Credit: via https://twitter.com/rantingbisexual
Several days ago a group of pro-life protestors gathered outside the Rotunda Maternity Hospital displaying graphic images of embryos and foetuses before abortion. Naturally, this caused significant distress to patients and visiting family members, so much so that the hospital was forced to call the gardaí to get the protestors to desist and remove their billboard-sized banners.
Despite this, yesterday, another group of pro-life protestors gathered outside the Rotunda's doors.
Despite previous pleas to refrain from protesting outside our entrance, an anti-abortion group is currently displaying graphic imagery outside the Hospital.
— The Rotunda Hospital (@RotundaHospital) May 3, 2018
Aside from the fact that their choice of location for their protest was utterly callous and insensitive to all those who were visiting the hospital, for any number of complex and perhaps incredibly distressing reasons, their wilful dismissal of the hospital's clear wishes for them to not protest and display such gratuitously traumatising imagery can only be seen as deplorable.
Thankfully, word of their protest soon spread and it was not long before a counter-protest, organised by the group Radical Queer Resists, arrived to cover up the images with rainbow flags, bedsheets and whatever other means they had at their disposal, to shield patients and visiting family members from the entirely inappropriate posters.
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We are on scene at the Rotunda blocking out the ICBR's vile, abusive imagery. Stay safe everyone. pic.twitter.com/IewJ7Av7ya
— Radical Queers Resist (@RadQueersResist) May 3, 2018
We will NOT tolerate abusive and distressing images on our streets. Punishing tragedy and re-traumatising vulnerable people is not okay, and we will not stand for it. #Resist #RQRGonnaFuckYouUp #QueerPower pic.twitter.com/ox54UUqJzm
— Radical Queers Resist (@RadQueersResist) May 3, 2018
It was not long before the pro-life protestors ceded defeat and packed their banners away. Hopefully the amazing willingness shown by the group from Radical Queer Resists that arrived will, if not deter similarly despicable protests in future, at least make this extreme faction of pro-life protestors realise that they will not be able to act without consequence or opposition.
