Anti-abortion protestors have sparked anger after protesting outside hospitals hospitals in Glasgow today.
Around a dozen people carrying pro-life messages on placards bearing the '40 Days of Life' banner have been pictured outside both the entrances of Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Protestors have reportedly had a presence since the start of the week.
The '40 Days for Life' campaign is ran by a Texas-based organisation, who have a presence in Scotland. The group were involved in a 40 day prayer vigil held across Scotland in September outside women's health facilities.
Back off Scotland, who campaign for Buffer Zones to be put in place around clinics, tweeted: "The QEUH and the Glasgow Royal Infirmary are being targeted by protestors this week. It’s disgraceful that this is still going on in Scotland in 2023."
Others say they witnessed the protestors outside the hospitals while walking past, prompting them to call for buffer zones to be implemented immediately.
Sarah Quinn said: "Passed an entire group of anti-abortion campaigners standing *directly beside* the entrance to a hospital on my way home. Buffer. Zones. Now."
NHS Glasgow consultant Greg Irwin, who is a supporter of Buffer Zones, added: "So you’ve got some free time? How about volunteering at a foodbank? Working with refugees? Helping the homeless? - all great causes. Or you could seek to intimidate women accessing abortion healthcare instead. I wonder, what would Jesus do?"
At the end of last year 40 Days for Life' began a recruitment campaign for protestors outside of abortion clinics. The Glasgow campaign is due to take place between February 22 to April 2 and it's alleged that as many as 100 protestors could be standing outside the entrances to clinics.
Pro-choice campaigner Gemma Clark said: "The worst thing is this is them ‘off season’. The Texan organisation have recruited to increase presence from 22nd Feb and we will probably be looking at over 100 protestors again in April."
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