Isabel Vaughan Spruce’s recent detainment for silently praying outside an abortion clinic in the United Kingdom has sparked outrage from pro-life activists all over the world. Spruce was accused of violating a Public Space Protection Order for praying near an abortion clinic on four different occasions in Kings Norton, Birmingham.
Footage of the incident shows police confronting the woman, who stands silently praying as they approach her and ask what she is doing. She informs them that she “may be” praying in her head.
“Are you praying?” the officer asked her.
“I might be praying in my head,” she responded.
From there Spruce is asked to provide more information and very politely declines, stating that if she doesn’t have to she doesn’t want to. That’s when officers placed her under arrest and proceeded to search her and take her away.
In light of the Justice Department’s recent crackdown on pro-life activists in the United States, Spruce’s arrest has been met with strong criticism from the pro-life community. Her supporters argue that her arrest is a violation of her religious freedom and a violation of her right to peacefully protest. They contend that the Public Space Protection Order used to arrest Spruce is overly broad and does not account for the peaceful nature of her protest.
The right to peacefully protest has long been a cornerstone of the pro-life movement and the arrest of Spruce has only further galvanized pro-life activists to stand up for their rights. The pro-life movement will continue to fight for their freedom to protest outside abortion clinics and demand that the rights of peaceful protesters be respected.
Watch
Police in the UK arrest a woman for silently praying:
"Are you praying?"
"I might be praying in my head." pic.twitter.com/7Q8UnKmfa1
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) December 22, 2022
Free speech is incredibly limited in the UK, obviously, but 5 councils have created zones restricting free speech even further deeming some areas under “Public Space Protection Orders”.
The PSPO order that Vaughan-Spruce allegedly broke was imposed by the Birmingham City Council on September 7, outlawing all abortion demonstrations outside the clinic. When she stood in front of the building by herself, Vaughan-Spruce reportedly did not carry a poster, candles for a vigil, or graphic pictures that might be deemed disturbing to local residents, according to the video. Vaughan-Spruce is scheduled to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court on February 2, 2023.
“The PSPO protecting the area around Robert Clinic focuses on ensuring people visiting and working there have clear access without fear of confrontation. Any local authority seeking to implement a PSPO must have robust evidence for its introduction, which guides the conditions and location – this includes concerns and complaints received from the community,” a Birmingham City Council spokesperson said when the order was granted.
