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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/sep/17/anti-abortion-protesters-cleared
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Anti-abortion protesters cleared of public order offences | Anti-abortion protesters cleared of public order offences |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Anti-abortion protesters who displayed pictures of aborted foetuses outside a clinic offering pregnancy terminations have been cleared of public order offences. | Anti-abortion protesters who displayed pictures of aborted foetuses outside a clinic offering pregnancy terminations have been cleared of public order offences. |
| Andrew Stephenson and Kathryn Sloane, members of Abort67, were accused of intimidating women who went for abortion services at a clinic run by Bpas in Brighton. | Andrew Stephenson and Kathryn Sloane, members of Abort67, were accused of intimidating women who went for abortion services at a clinic run by Bpas in Brighton. |
| A district judge sitting at Brighton magistrates court found them not guilty of displaying material that is threatening, abusive or insulting, under public order legislation. | A district judge sitting at Brighton magistrates court found them not guilty of displaying material that is threatening, abusive or insulting, under public order legislation. |
| Abort67 has been demonstrating outside the clinic for five years. | Abort67 has been demonstrating outside the clinic for five years. |
| The pressure group Abortion Rights said the verdict "demonstrates that the current law is inadequate to protect women from intimidation by hardline anti-abortion activists. It will be viewed as a green light for them to continue their aggressive campaign tactics. As a society we should be able to guarantee the privacy and safety of those seeking to access a legal medical treatment." | The pressure group Abortion Rights said the verdict "demonstrates that the current law is inadequate to protect women from intimidation by hardline anti-abortion activists. It will be viewed as a green light for them to continue their aggressive campaign tactics. As a society we should be able to guarantee the privacy and safety of those seeking to access a legal medical treatment." |
| Andrea Minichiello Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which represented the accused pair, said: "The dismissal of these charges will be welcomed by all who value freedom of speech and expression." | Andrea Minichiello Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which represented the accused pair, said: "The dismissal of these charges will be welcomed by all who value freedom of speech and expression." |
| She said they were seeking an urgent meeting with leaders of the Association of Chief Police Officers about the interpretation of the Public Order Act, "to explore whether better guidance can be drawn up over the policing of such activities, especially those motivated by religious convictions". | She said they were seeking an urgent meeting with leaders of the Association of Chief Police Officers about the interpretation of the Public Order Act, "to explore whether better guidance can be drawn up over the policing of such activities, especially those motivated by religious convictions". |
| Bpas said it did not take a position on the legality of the protest but questioned its morality. "What takes place on a regular basis outside our clinic is not about debate or changing public opinion – it is simply about causing distress to individual women on what may already be a difficult day," it said. | Bpas said it did not take a position on the legality of the protest but questioned its morality. "What takes place on a regular basis outside our clinic is not about debate or changing public opinion – it is simply about causing distress to individual women on what may already be a difficult day," it said. |
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