The battle over life is raging around the world.
And pro-life activists are stepping up their peaceful protests and vigils.
Now, 40 Days for Life is planning a series of peaceful protests outside this hospital that could lead to a major showdown.
The U.S. based pro-life group 40 Days for Life is planning a series of protests outside a hospital in Scotland despite a law banning expressions of free speech.
Scottish law bans pro-lifers from peaceful protests
According to its website, 40 Days for Life will hold prayer vigils and peaceful protests outside the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow from March 5 until April 13.
The move could cause a major showdown with Scottish police.
That’s because a law passed last year by the Scottish Parliament outlawed pro-life activists from protesting within 200 meters of abortion mills.
Just last week, a 74-year-old woman became the first person to be arrested under the anti-free speech law.
Hardgate Road, which is just outside the hospital, had been a frequent gathering place for pro-life activists before the grossly misnamed “Safe Access Zones Act” was passed by MSPs.
Despite last Wednesday’s arrest, the 40 Days for Life group still has the area highlighted as part of its upcoming global campaign against abortion, which includes hundreds of locations around the world.
The group, which got its start in Texas, says it is “an internationally coordinated 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses.”
Scotland police said they would respond “proportionately” to any protests outside abortion clinics in Scotland.
Superintendent Christopher Stewart said: “Every incident is unique and officers will respond proportionately to reports of anyone breaching the legislation by engaging with them, explaining the law and encouraging compliance before moving to enforcement if necessary.”
Gillian Mackay MSP, who introduced the anti-free speech buffer zones legislation, was not so polite and warned the group against further demonstrations.
“I urge 40 Days and anyone else who is planning to protest in a safe access zone to think again, as they will be stopped and there will be consequences,” she said.
“The protests that have taken place outside Queen Elizabeth and other hospitals have been utterly shameful and have no place in a modern or progressive Scotland. That is why I introduced my Act, and why they are now illegal.
“These zones were introduced to stop the intimidation and obstruction of people accessing abortion services, including the shameful scenes of protest groups waving graphic banners, and in some cases using megaphones and loudspeakers to abuse service users and staff.
“We know the awful impact that these protests have had. Some of the testimonies from women who have had to endure them have been heartbreaking. Why would anyone want to add to that hurt by spreading even more fear and anxiety?”
JD Vance weighs in on Scotland’s buffer zones
The news comes just days after US Vice-President JD Vance criticized Scotland’s buffer zones.
Speaking at a security conference in Munich, Vance said, “Just a few months ago the Scottish Government began distributing letters to citizens whose houses lay within so-called safe access zones, warning them that even private prayer within their own homes may amount to breaking the law. The Government urged readers to report any fellow citizens suspected guilty of thought crime. In Britain and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat.”
With 40 Days for Life getting ready to test the Scottish anti-free speech law, we may be about to see just how right the Vice President is.
Pro-Life Press will keep you up-to-date on this ongoing story.
