The All Ireland Rally for Choice - Counter Demo to Youth Defence's "Rally for Life"

All Ireland Rally for Choice July 2012

Belfast City Hall
Saturday, 7 July 2012
13:30 until 16:00

Buses are being organised from Dublin and other locations - more information here. 

In 2011, hundreds peacefully stood in opposition of the "Rally for Life" by Youth Defence.

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Some activists shared their thoughts on the campaign.

I am sure you've seen the Anti-Abortion billboards by Youth Defence. These billboards have caused broad range of discussion from advertising standards to free speech to misinformation and the ever divisive issue of abortion itself. And it's not the first campaign of its kind.

In March this year, we carried out a social media campaign analysis of the Youth Defence page, it had 30,178 likes, three months later it has 57,661 fans. (source) 

This demonstrates to us that Youth Defence have the financial backing, social media know-how and are actively and aggressively campaigning for their Pro-Life/Anti-Choice beliefs. 

The problem is that the pro-choice side is comparatively passive. And in Ireland it is those who shout the loudest who get heard. It's time to start being heard.

Below, are some examples of Youth Defence's behaviour and how you can help rally against it both on and offline. 

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They can afford to set up advertising and funding to spread their message. 

Abortion is not about babies, as this ad would have you believe, it's about choice long before a child is born.

These ads are for the "We can end abortion" page, however YD have run similar campaigns.

They call us "Pro-Aborts"

The reality is most of the anti-choice YDers are quite nasty and mean.

YD use emotive, over-simplified, and often religious references, 
to spread their message.

For detail, click image to enlarge.

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Worrying comments on the Youth Defence FB page. 

In the recent furore about the "Abortion Tears her Life Apart" campaign some of the activity demonstrated below shows the kinds of extreme and non-passive attitudes of the YD members. YDs is in full swing in the lead up to its annual "Rally for Life" event. For more examples, check out any comment on any image on their FB page. 

Payton, quite ineloquently asks if she was to get pregnant at 13 would it be right for her to have that child?

For some reason, this labels the child who does not want to become a mother, selfish.

Some would consider it a mature decision for a 13 yr old to not have that child.

For detail, click image to enlarge.

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What can you do about it? LIKE THESE PAGES!

The campaign by YD caused outrage.

Rally For Choice Ireland
Action On X
Stop the Disgraceful Billboard Campaign from Youth Defence
TFMR Ireland
Cork Womens Right to Choose Group
Unlike Youth Defence, I trust women to decide their lives for themselves.
The All Ireland Rally for Choice

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Show your opposition at the counter demonstration!

Protest peacefully and respectfully.

Over 300 people have signed up to attend the All Ireland Rally for Choice event, which is the counter demonstration to the All Ireland Rally for Life run by Youth Defence. 

Each year, the rally changes location between Belfast and Dublin, this year it is in Belfast. 

The YD groups have been organising buses and promoting the event for weeks and be under no illusuion, they have a 10 day 'roadshow' where they propagate their misinformation too. They go to lots of towns, except Dublin, probably because they'd have more opposition in Dublin.

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Be respectful, be sane.

Believe it or not, the members who attend the YD marches are quite rude, aggressive and kind of scary. 

Last year, those who attended the counter-demo were called murderers, nazis and were told they were going to hell, often by people holding up crucifixes. 

The pictures on the left are intended to demonstrate the juxtaposition between what YD propagate and the reality. 

As such, if you're attending the Rally for Choice or even if you are engaging with YD online, be respectful, be sane - because they sure are not. 

We hope to see you at the counter demonstration, online or offline!