Pro-choice campaigners and activists will assemble outside a fertility control clinic in East Melbourne on July 23 for several reasons.
The clinic is under constant harassment from far-right Christian groups, including Right to Life and the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants. These groups rally outside the clinic every fourth Saturday of the month, and sometimes on weekdays too.
These groups mobilise their members to harass not only women using the clinic, but also women who just happen to walk past.
These groups want to revoke Victoria’s laws that decriminalised abortion. They are stepping up the pressure with their vicious method of campaigning until their demands are met.
The pro-choice rally will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of security guard Steve Rogers.
Anti-abortion fanatic Peter Knight murdered Rogers on July 16, 2001.
Immediately after the rally there will be a memorial service for Rogers.
The rally has been organised by the Campaign for Women’s Reproductive Rights, which has defended the clinic from the anti-abortion groups for the past six years.
The group conducts a clinic defense picket on the fourth Saturday of each month to coincide with the right wing protests.
At the July defense, pro-choicers will commemorate this anniversary, remember Steve Rogers and say “Never Again!”
Come rally for full reproductive rights for all women and join in building a movement that will stop the anti-abortionists and secure real choices for women.
[The rally will take place at 10am on July 23, 118 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne.]