Anti-abortion group protesting at P.E.I. schools

A group called Show the Truth has been showing up at high schools across Prince Edward Island this week to promote its anti-abortion message.

They're displaying graphic signs they claim show images of aborted fetuses.

Most of the protestersare from Ontario.Montague resident Anne Marie Tomlins protested with the group outside Colonel Gray High School in Charlottetown Wednesday.

We all decided we were going to get together a protest against their protest, because it is our rights and we don't want them taken away from us. Emma Parsons

"Since I moved down here I just thought it would be nice to have them come down and help me show the truth here," Tomlins said.

So far this weekthe organization has protested outside three Island schools includingColonel Gray, Bluefieldin North Wiltshire and Three Oaks in Summerside.

Usually the group holds up its signs while buses arrive or leave schools, but Tomlins said most buses also contain younger childrenso they decided to protest at five schools at noon time.

Some people have been upset by the images, but Tomlins stands by the claim theyare real and informative.

Students counter-protest

Many high school students have been pushing back at the protests. Tomlins said the group has been yelled at,but others have had civil discussions.

Eighteen-year-old Emma Parsons came from BluefieldHigh Schoolto counter-protest outside Colonel Gray.

"We all decided we were going to get together a protest against their protest, because it is our rights and we don't want them taken away from us."

Maggie Bain is a Grade 12 studentfrom Bluefield who also counter-protested. Shesaid it was upsetting when they protested outsideher school.

"They don't cover all the topicsuch as types of birth control they are just saying abortion is whateveryone does and that is not a fact," Bain said.

Rosemary Connell, the co-ordinator of Show the Truth from Ontario, said she has been havinginformative discussions with students and loves the atmosphere ofthe debate.

"They clearly told us they didn't have the information about expecting a child, about the development of a child, they had no idea the abortion techniques, how they are actually done," Connell said.

Connell said one of their signs was damaged with black marker and the organization could press charges, but won't.

"At this point we think we will chalk it up to youth and an inability to calmly discuss an issue."

Blankets covering signs

Jason Alward isn't a high school studentbut he held up blankets to hidethe signs of the anti-abortionprotestors. He said he heard about the protests online and wanted to express his own view.

"I think unfortunately the science is misunderstood by these individuals and in the end, it is really a woman's choice."

Abortion has long beenanissue onthe political landscape in North America.

In theU.S.,Alabama just passed an anti-abortion law under whichperforming an abortion at any stage of pregnancy is a felony punishable by up to 99 yearsin prison. The only exception is when awoman's health is at serious risk.

The Show the Truth group saidit intends to continue protesting atother high schools on P.E.I. this week.

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