Have you heard about the Boston anti abortion protest? Here are some facts about it. Kindly note that we are not giving you the history. Ours is just an overview.
Anti-abortion activists took to Boston College to protest Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s commencement speech today.
Approximately 50 protestors lined the main entrance of the prestigious school, joining Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley in boycotting the event due to Mr Kenny’s stance on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013.
While Mr Kenny received a standing ovation for his lengthy speech to the graduating class, outside the premises, protestors were keen to share their message and explain their upset at his presence.
Some motorists beeped in support of the protest, while one woman pulled over her car to express her disagreement. Supervising police were forced to intervene and escort the woman back to her vehicle, while she and the protestors exchanged verbal arguments.
John O’Donoghue, from Artane in Dublin, who is now living in Massachusetts, told the Irish Independent: “He’s a man who shouldn’t be let inside the door here.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, David Murphy from Mallow, Co. Cork, who has been living in Boston for the last five years, attending high school here, said: “I came to protest Enda Kenny, to defend God’s honour, to protect innocent life and prevent abortion from entering Ireland.” He added that he, and many of his fellow protestors, were keen for Ireland to return to its roots, firmly engrained within the Catholic Church,
Carmel, who did not want to use her last name, from Tuam in Co. Galway, has been living in the United States for 20 years, is staunchly opposed to the introduction of abortion legislation into her native country.
Opposing Sides Clash Over Abortion Rights
The conflict began after a men’s march of anti-abortion advocates rallied outside Planned Parenthood on Commonwealth Avenue on Saturday morning. The march then proceeded to the bandstand on Boston Common and called for abortions to be abolished.
“On our end, it was peaceful,” said Jim Havens, Co-founder of the Men’s March. “But there were many people I would say hundreds, maybe even thousand who came out to try to block us from continuing on in our march.”
The Men’s March is a group of demonstrators against legal abortion access. Most members of the group are Catholic.
“We believe that there’s a man behind every abortion, and we’re calling on men to love women and children, not harm them,” he said.
Once they arrived at Boston Common, they were met by counter-protesters advocating for women and their right to choose. Some of the protesters were dressed as clowns and played circus music and blew on horns, and cowbells.
“They have a right to be here and we have a right to speak out against them, and the police are here just to keep the peace, and I hope that’s all they do,” said one protester.
