Most Londoner’s have probably noticed anti-abortion groups throughout the city displaying posters featuring pictures of aborted fetuses. Along with this, these groups have been spreading pamphlets across the city going as far as dropping them in people’s mailboxes. Some Londoner’s have deemed this to cross a line.
This led to the establishment of The Viewer Discretion Legislation Coalition (VDLC) earlier this month. The group, founded by Katie Dean and Mark Konrad, officially announced their campaign to the public this morning by holding a demonstration in front of City Hall. Supporters there were flashing signs with messages of pro-choice and claiming misinformation on part of the individuals that have been showing anti-abortion posters throughout the city, some women even sporting outfits straight out of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.
Katie Dean explains what led her to establish this group, and goes into detail on the harm she believes these signs cause.
“They’re very triggering for someone who has experienced a pregnancy loss, such as myself. They also are handing these pamphlets out and speaking to children on our streets about abortion, which I believe is incredibly inappropriate.”
While at 300 Dufferin Avenue, some of the members of the VDLC shared some personal stories, and described how the signs and pamphlets from around the city have caused them distress. All those who shared had in some way been affected by infant loss.
While the VDLC has been working behind the scenes for the past month, today was the official kickoff of their campaign and they are encouraging the community to get involved.
“We’re asking people to start writing their city councilors, inundate them about how they have been affected and how they feel about these graphic images.” said Dean.
After this morning’s rally, it is clear the VDLC are just getting started. One of their main goals is to push legislation that would prevent individual’s from showing these graphic signs in a public setting, or dropping off pamphlets to Londoner’s homes. Currently, there are no bylaws preventing this.
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