Feminists for Action Windsor not letting pro-life advocates own the sidewalk
Pro-choice demonstrators proudly displayed their signs Sunday October 6th from WRH Metropolitan campus’ property line.
Windsor Regional Hospital hasn’t said anything after another bubble zone rally held by Feminists for Action Windsor (FFA).
On Oct. 6, the pro-choice advocacy group gathered outside the Metropolitan campus of Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) demanding that the hospital administration requests to implement a safe access zone of 150 metres from its property line.
It is currently illegal to hold abortion-related protests anywhere on the hospital’s property, but FFA believe that a “bubble zone” should be implemented to protect those seeking abortion services from any abortion related public discourse.
“We feel that it is very important that people are not subjected to these opinions and this shaming on the part of these anti-choicers, especially considering there is a bus-stop along this stretch of Tecumseh road where they like to position themselves,” said Lauren Crowley, rally organizer, while protesting in front of the hospital on Sunday.
Safe access zones prohibit activities such as advising a person to refrain from accessing abortion services, abortion related protests, physically interfering with or intimidating people accessing or providing abortion services, and recording patients or providers.
FFA have formally petitioned that WRH administration file a request to the Ontario Attorney General’s Office to have a safe access zone implemented.
Late August, in a letter addressed to FFA, the hospital board of directors clarified their position on the issue. The letter concluded that the board will not request a wider access zone.
“The WRH board has determined that the current restriction which limits advocacy to Tecumseh Road has not compromised safe access for patients seeking therapeutic abortion,” said the letter. “A 150-metre access zone would hypothetically serve to divert advocates from Tecumseh Road over to an alternate high-traffic public road, such as Walker Road.”
Michelle Mainwaring, dressed like a handmaiden from the popoular television series, The Handmaid’s Tale, holds a pro-choice sign on the pro-life dominated sidewalk separating Tecumseh road from Windsor Regional Hospital.
Since the rally last week, Steve Irwin, WRH Director of Communications, has refused to comment despite being contacted on numerous occasions.
“We aren’t commenting on this issue publicly, partly due to the fact that discussions and decisions on the issue were made by the hospital board of directors, not our CEO or our administration,” Erwin wrote in an email.
The FFA organizers coordinated their rally to take place alongside the international pro-life prayer vigil, Life Chain.
Laurie Eberhardt, vigil coordinator for 40 Days for Life in Windsor–another pro-life group present on Sunday–said that a bubble-zone “would create a pro-life ghetto in our cities, where pro-life is restricted, pro-life citizens are restricted, women are not allowed to get information counter to the pro-abortion talking points.”
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