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28 Women Dragging Suitcases March for Abortion Rights in Northern Ireland 28 Women Dragging Suitcases March for Abortion Rights in Northern Ireland
(about 7 hours later)
LONDON — Twenty-eight women dragged suitcases across Westminster bridge in London this week to protest restrictive abortion laws in Northern Ireland and demand the expansion of abortion rights. LONDON — Twenty-eight women dragged 28 suitcases across Westminster bridge in London this week to protest restrictive abortion laws in Northern Ireland and demand the expansion of abortion rights.
The number of protesters was not random and symbolized “the 28 women who are forced to make the lonely journey to England to access abortion services every week,” Grainne Teggart, the Northern Ireland campaign manager for Amnesty International, said in a phone interview on Wednesday morning. The number of protesters was not random: The 28 demonstrators symbolized “the 28 women who are forced to make the lonely journey to England to access abortion services every week,” Grainne Teggart, the Northern Ireland campaign manager for Amnesty International, said in a phone interview on Wednesday.
The women — including members of the British Parliament and television stars — marched on Tuesday to the office of Karen Bradley, a Conservative member of Parliament and the Northern Ireland Secretary in Westminster. They carried with them a petition started by Amnesty International asking the British government to take action to reform Northern Ireland’s abortion law.The women — including members of the British Parliament and television stars — marched on Tuesday to the office of Karen Bradley, a Conservative member of Parliament and the Northern Ireland Secretary in Westminster. They carried with them a petition started by Amnesty International asking the British government to take action to reform Northern Ireland’s abortion law.
“Northern Ireland is now isolated as the only part of the U.K. and Ireland with a near total abortion ban,” Ms. Teggart said in a statement on Tuesday. “This is unacceptable.”“Northern Ireland is now isolated as the only part of the U.K. and Ireland with a near total abortion ban,” Ms. Teggart said in a statement on Tuesday. “This is unacceptable.”
Each of the protesters carried a suitcase to Westminster — the first four containing sheets of paper with the 62,000 names of people who had signed the petition.Each of the protesters carried a suitcase to Westminster — the first four containing sheets of paper with the 62,000 names of people who had signed the petition.
“Each paper looked like a flight ticket,” said Ms. Teggart, to note the fact that women living in Northern Ireland have to fly to England in order to have an abortion.“Each paper looked like a flight ticket,” said Ms. Teggart, to note the fact that women living in Northern Ireland have to fly to England in order to have an abortion.
More than 64,900 people had signed the petition by Wednesday afternoon.More than 64,900 people had signed the petition by Wednesday afternoon.
Northern Ireland has been under intense pressure to alter its abortion laws, which ban the procedure in nearly all cases, since Ireland voted to repeal its own restrictive abortion ban in May. Less than two weeks later, Britain’s Supreme Court rejected a case that attempted to overturn Northern Ireland’s abortion laws. The case had been brought by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, but was rejected over a legal technicality.Northern Ireland has been under intense pressure to alter its abortion laws, which ban the procedure in nearly all cases, since Ireland voted to repeal its own restrictive abortion ban in May. Less than two weeks later, Britain’s Supreme Court rejected a case that attempted to overturn Northern Ireland’s abortion laws. The case had been brought by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, but was rejected over a legal technicality.
However, the president of the court, Justice Brenda M. Hale, said at the time that a majority of justices were “of the firm and clear opinion that the current law is incompatible” with the European Convention on Human Rights.However, the president of the court, Justice Brenda M. Hale, said at the time that a majority of justices were “of the firm and clear opinion that the current law is incompatible” with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Britain legalized abortion in 1967, but that measure does not extend to Northern Ireland partly because of the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, which exercise some individual powers while remaining part of the United Kingdom.Britain legalized abortion in 1967, but that measure does not extend to Northern Ireland partly because of the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, which exercise some individual powers while remaining part of the United Kingdom.
But the National Assembly in Belfast has been suspended since November 2017, and the pressure on the British government to act is mounting.But the National Assembly in Belfast has been suspended since November 2017, and the pressure on the British government to act is mounting.
“It’s about time Westminster stopped dragging their feet, and brought about the change needed,” Ms. Teggart said, by committing to passing legislature.“It’s about time Westminster stopped dragging their feet, and brought about the change needed,” Ms. Teggart said, by committing to passing legislature.
Nicola Coughlan, one of the lead actresses in “Derry Girls,” a popular television series set in 1990s Northern Ireland, said in a statement on Tuesday that she and others were marching “to show the U.K. government that we won’t stop until women in Northern Ireland get their rights.”Nicola Coughlan, one of the lead actresses in “Derry Girls,” a popular television series set in 1990s Northern Ireland, said in a statement on Tuesday that she and others were marching “to show the U.K. government that we won’t stop until women in Northern Ireland get their rights.”
“It’s almost unbelievable that women in Northern Ireland are still being persecuted by a Victorian-era abortion ban,” she added.“It’s almost unbelievable that women in Northern Ireland are still being persecuted by a Victorian-era abortion ban,” she added.
Siobhan McSweeney, another actress in “Derry Girls,” said: “It’s 2019, yet women in Northern Ireland still face restrictions on their reproductive rights that women across the rest of the UK and Ireland do not. It’s our time for change.”Siobhan McSweeney, another actress in “Derry Girls,” said: “It’s 2019, yet women in Northern Ireland still face restrictions on their reproductive rights that women across the rest of the UK and Ireland do not. It’s our time for change.”
Women who have been affect by the abortion restrictions were part of the marching group of 28, as were abortion rights activists and five cross-party members of Parliament, including Heidi Allen, one of the Conservative lawmakers who defected from Prime Minister Theresa May’s governing party last week.Women who have been affect by the abortion restrictions were part of the marching group of 28, as were abortion rights activists and five cross-party members of Parliament, including Heidi Allen, one of the Conservative lawmakers who defected from Prime Minister Theresa May’s governing party last week.
Anti-abortion protesters also held a counter-demonstration in Westminster on Tuesday. They carried pink balloons and placards bearing the words “protect every human.”Anti-abortion protesters also held a counter-demonstration in Westminster on Tuesday. They carried pink balloons and placards bearing the words “protect every human.”
The group’s main poster also read, “100,000 people are alive today because of Northern Ireland’s laws on abortion.”