Trial collapse a victory for free speech, pro-lifers, and preborn children
Andy Stephenson
Pro-life and freedom of speech advocates are celebrating a huge victory in the UK. CBR UK directors Andy Stephenson and Kathryn Sloane have been cleared of all charges related to displaying abortion photos outside an abortion clinic an Brighton. Best story here. Other notable stories here and here.
In staging the arrest of the two pro-lifers, Brighton police actively fished for complaints from passersby. They were operating under the legal theory that speech becomes alarming, distressing, etc., and therefore illegal under the Public Order Act, whenever anybody complains about it.
After the trial, Andy Stephenson commented, “What the police have been doing in shutting us down has had a chilling effect on free speech. Hopefully this will have a chilling effect on the police now to hold back on their over-enthusiastic, over-reaching arm of the law.”
The Court’s written opinion was expected at 2:00 pm Tuesday. Stay tuned to FAB for updates.
Tags: Andy Stephenson, Brighton, CBR UK, Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform
This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 18th, 2012 at 12:41 pm and is filed under Pro Life Activism, Pro Life International. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
3 Responses to “Trial collapse a victory for free speech, pro-lifers, and preborn children”
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September 18th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
Praise God!!
October 15th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
CBR played key role in major UK expressive rights victory says:[…] On September 18, 2012, District Judge Stephen Nicholls (Brighton, UK Magistrate’s Court) issued a strong defense of CBR’s speech rights in the landmark criminal prosecution of CBR-UK director Andrew Stephenson and his assistant Kathryn Sloane. Both activists were acquitted of charges related to three alleged violations of Section 5(b) of the Public Order Act (POA), for displaying graphic abortion images outside abortion clinics. More here. […]
November 9th, 2012 at 9:31 am
CBR photos reach 1 million Sunday Times of London readers says:[…] apparently not used to seeing effective pro-life activism: Brighton Pro-Choice met the week after the trial to plan more radical action against Abort67. One member warned: “If the police won’t stop them, […]