Consider this: Linda Gibbons is in jail for talking on a city street. That would shock people, except Linda Gibbons is sitting in jail for talking to women outside an abortion clinic. Which apparently then fails to raise even an eyebrow. I’m liking her more and more:
She has never spoken at any of her court appearances, believing silence is part of her protest for the “voicelessness of the unborn,” a supporter, Father Tony Van Hee, explained.
The “temporary injunction” that holds Linda Gibbons in jail is a severe encroachment on our freedom of movement and freedom of speech. What if 10 or 100 young women all moved into that bubble zone? Would they throw us all in jail? I’m considering testing it. Let’s see how far they want to take this.
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If I didn’t have kids, I’d test it. I’ve thought about it, but I just don’t want my kids to be without their mom.
When the kids are grown, however…
I think that is what really needs to be done. A large group of people breaking that injunction – then the courts would have to face the real issue. With one single person, i.e. Linda, they charge her with other counts, never with breaking the injunction. If I lived closer …..
Well isnt that nice, we should so test it to c if they would lock us all up
We all need to support Ms. Gibbons, and I think it’s a great idea to join her cause if your situation allows it and you feel called, but I would suggest that the next little while is a bad time to do it.
Reports seem to indicate that the judge was favorable to Linda’s position – I think we need to see what the judge says and not risk provoking her.
Just to add: One of the best ways to support Ms. Gibbons right now, and to help bring the defeat of the injunction, is to show up en masse at the courthouse for her hearing and trial.
I like the idea of mass challenges to the bubble zone. Linda Gibbons is courageous and all the more so because she is alone, but she is easily forgotten (thanks to the Post for noticing). Numbers matter. Mass protests out here in B.C, have advanced the environmentalist cause in several instances, geting Meares Island turned into a park in the 1980s, and getting more land preserved in the 1990s,when hundreds went on trial for blocking logging roads.
Of course, most of those arrested were from the welfare rolls in Victoria and Vancouver. Or were paid environmentalists. Their sacrifice wasn’t aa big as it would be for most prolifers. But still: numbers matter; they make people take notice; they make the media take notice (and I am a reporter); trials stay in the news for weeks.
Steve Weatherbe blogs at faithvictoria.wordpress.com