Anti-abortion campaigners branded ‘disgusting’ as they hold vigil near hospital
A law passed last year by the Scottish Parliament outlawed activists from protesting within 200 metres of abortion clinics.
An anti-abortion group has been branded “disgusting” and told “you don’t care about the women” as it staged a vigil near a maternity hospital.
A woman who lives nearby strode over to accost members of the 40 Days For Life group as they held a prayer vigil close to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
The campaigners are outside the 200-metre abortion buffer zone in place around the hospital’s maternity unit but are still visible on one of the main approaches to it via Shieldhall Road.
They are planning a series of vigils from March 5 until April 13.
On Wednesday morning, El Johnstone crossed the road from her home nearby to shout at the group and told them: “You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
Referring to the hospital, she said: “You have no idea what the women there have gone through or are going through, you do not know. You have no respect for the women, you don’t care about the women.”
Speaking to media afterwards, Ms Johnstone, who has experience of miscarriage, said: “I woke up this morning and went to have my breakfast and could see this from my bedroom window. I’m not receiving the healthcare and this has upset me so much.
“So imagine if you were going through a horrible, horrible decision in your life, and you’re faced with this.
“You can pray in your church. You can pray in your houses. You do not need to come and pray outside a healthcare facility and upset everybody who’s going there.
“I just have empathy for the people that do need access to services today, people who are going through something, people who might be miscarrying, like I have, and seeing this, it just adds to more stress and a horrible situation made worse. I just don’t think it’s necessary.”
She said the buffer zone should be expanded so campaigners cannot be in the vicinity of the hospital.
There were shouts of “disgusting” from motorists driving past as the group stood praying.
Ms Johnstone also said she thinks people have been “emboldened” by comments from US Vice-President JD Vance, who recently criticised Scotland’s buffer zones and said he fears free speech is in retreat.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney dismissed his comments, saying: “JD Vance is just wrong.”
Pointing to the campaigners, Ms Johnstone said: “These are the minority, and I feel like they are emboldened by JD Vance’s recent comments saying that we have no freedom of speech.
“We do have freedom of speech. What we don’t have is freedom from consequences. The buffer zone is there for a reason.”
Six members of the group took part in the vigil on Wednesday, holding 40 days for Life placards with messages such as “Choose life”.
They did not want to speak to the media, saying only “we are here to pray”, as they stood at the junction of Shieldhall Road and Hardgate Road.
Green MSP Gillian Mackay, who introduced the abortion buffer zone law which was passed last year, says it will face a “real test” during the protests.
She said she will work with police and health authorities to ensure the Safe Access Zones Act is upheld.
In February, a 74-year-old woman became the first person in Scotland to be arrested over an alleged breach of the legislation.
Speaking on Wednesday afternoon, Ms Mackay said: “Safe access zones were introduced to protect patients and staff at our hospitals and to keep the protesters at bay, and that is what they have done.
“The fact that only a small number of protesters turned up and they have been consigned to roads that are further from the hospital is an important step forward.
“Nobody should have to pass graphic banners and placards to access healthcare, and I hope that these protests will become a thing of the past.
“I urge the protesters to read the testimony of the many women who have felt intimidated and judged by their actions and to ask themselves if they really want to be responsible for such hurt.
“Abortion rights are human rights. The ignorant claims from the US vice-president have emboldened trolls on social media, but the vast majority of people in Scotland support the right to go to hospital without harassment.”
Earlier, an organiser for 40 Days for Life, which began in Texas, pledged not to beach the law.
Mary Gilroy told the PA news agency: “The 40 Days for Life prayer group will not be operating within the buffer zone but will instead pray for help and protection for mothers and their unborn babies from a 200-metre distance from the abortion facility.
“We have arranged to meet with police services ahead of the planned dates and are grateful for our good working relations that protect our ability to pray.
“We invite anyone who wants to chat to us about support for continuing their pregnancy to feel free to do so.
“In a nation like Scotland, it should never be illegal to pray or to have a consensual conversation.”
