Petition to: London City Council
Don't Let London City Council Censor Pro-Life Flyers
Don't Let London City Council Censor Pro-Life Flyers
City Councillors in London, Ontario are trying to attack the free speech of pro-lifers and censor the pro-life message. On Tuesday, March 22nd, London's Community and Protective Services Committee will be debating and possibly voting on two proposed by-laws that were explicitly designed to stop the distribution of pro-life flyers that show the reality about abortion through graphic imagery.
One of these by-laws proposes fining people for delivering unaddressed flyers to properties that have “No Flyers”, “No Junk Mail”, or “No Unsolicited Mail”. The other bylaw bans the distribution of any flyer that contains graphic imagery, with the example being “dismembered human beings or aborted fetuses” but also bans anything that “may cause or trigger a negative reaction to the health and wellbeing of any person at any scale”. The maximum fine for violating either of these bylaws is $5,000.
These by-laws were drafted largely as a response to activism that pro-life groups such as The Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform (CCBR) have done in London in 2020. Their website and social media pages have testimonies showing how minds have been changed and lives have been saved through activism involving the use of images of the victims of abortion.
These by-laws are a direct attack on our right to freedom of expression, which is protected in The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. CCBR has stated that they’re being denied their Charter right to freedom of expression, and other local pro-life groups such as the London Area Right to Life Association have stated the same.
Governments must not ban the distribution of “triggering” images. Such images have been essential to many protest movements opposing wars and dictatorships, as well as social evils such as slavery and child labour. It’s always within the best interests of governments to “sanitize” the evils they support. The activism by CCBR and similar groups give a stark reminder that abortion isn’t just a “women’s choice about her body” but rather the brutal killing of a small human being.
Please sign this petition demanding that all London City Councillors reject the proposed by-laws which seek to censor the free expression of pro-life activists.
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London City Councillors: Don't Censor Pro-Life Protest
Dear London City Councillors,
Please reject both of the proposed by-laws which aim to stop the distribution of pro-life flyers that involve graphic imagery.
These by-laws go against our right to freedom of expression, which is protected in The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Governments must not censor methods of peaceful protest, even those which involve imagery that “may cause or trigger a negative reaction”. “Triggering” images have been an important part of many protest movements opposing wars and dictatorships, as well as social evils such as slavery and child labour. Banning protest that shows the reality of abortion is no different than banning images that show the reality of any other social injustice.
We ask that you vote against any proposal which seeks, either implicitly or explicitly, to curtail the freedom of expression of protestors and that you allow peaceful protests and conversations on difficult and controversial subjects like abortion to go on without government interference.
London City Councillors: Don't Censor Pro-Life Protest
Dear London City Councillors,
Please reject both of the proposed by-laws which aim to stop the distribution of pro-life flyers that involve graphic imagery.
These by-laws go against our right to freedom of expression, which is protected in The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Governments must not censor methods of peaceful protest, even those which involve imagery that “may cause or trigger a negative reaction”. “Triggering” images have been an important part of many protest movements opposing wars and dictatorships, as well as social evils such as slavery and child labour. Banning protest that shows the reality of abortion is no different than banning images that show the reality of any other social injustice.
We ask that you vote against any proposal which seeks, either implicitly or explicitly, to curtail the freedom of expression of protestors and that you allow peaceful protests and conversations on difficult and controversial subjects like abortion to go on without government interference.
