Graphic billboards showing a foetus at ‘nine weeks’ gestation have sprung up around Walthamstow – as anti-abortion campaigners ramp up their Stop Stella protest.
In a tweet, Labour MP Stella Creasy bemoaned Metropolitan police for not acting to stop an anti-abortion group that is targeting her with images of an unborn foetus.
On Saturday Ms Creasy was left feeling ‘physically sick’ when Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform (CBRUK) protesters displayed posters of aborted foetus’ in her constituency.
Clear Channel billboards (pictured) have been used by CBRUK to display an image of what is labelled as a foetus at nine weeks gestation in key places around the London district
The MP for Walthamstow, who is heavily pregnant and has suffered miscarriages in the past, tweeted asking for help getting in contact with the CEO of Clear Channel.
Clear Channel billboards have been used by CBRUK to display an image of a ‘nine-week living fetus’ in prominent areas around the London district.
But the pictured foetus looks more like it is at 12 weeks gestation, according to a spokeswoman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
In a tweet (pictured) Labour MP Stella Creasy accused Metropolitan police of turning a blind eye to an anti-abortion group that targeted her in a campaign over the weekend
Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow, who is heavily pregnant and has suffered miscarriages in the past, tweeted asking for help getting in contact with the CEO of Clear Channel
Earlier today Stella Creasy MP tweeted: ‘Twitter-can you get me the CEO of @CCUK_Direct advertising? how much did you get for this crap?
‘@metpoliceuk still think this is just ‘free speech’ and not harassment of women in walthamstow? Am sorry for the graphic images and @patel4witham am reaching out to you for help now.’
The poster, which is ‘on billboards and advertising kiosks around Walthamstow’, according to the campaign group, shows a 5cm foetus with fully formed fingers.
The poster, which is ‘on billboards and advertising kiosks around Walthamstow’, according to the campaign group, shows a 5cm foetus with fully formed fingers
And people were quick to jump to Ms Creasy’s defence as Theresa Musgrove called for Met Police to stop women who have suffered a miscarriage from suffering.
The Twitter user commented: ‘Whatever the circumstances, & clearly @metpoliceuk should act here – I think you should remember that images like that are also very upsetting to anyone who has suffered a miscarriage: really not appropriate either to put in public or on twitter.’
Others described the campaign as ‘harassment’ and pointed out the spelling of ‘fetus’ was an Americanism, suggesting the campaign may be led from overseas.
Rosie Duffield MP tweeted: This is offensive and it is harassment. Our laws ensure women have full autonomy over their bodies and theirs is the right to choose.
Commenters were quick to jump to Ms Creasy’s defence as Theresa Musgrove called for Met Police to stop women who have suffered a miscarriage from suffering
Another tweet read: ‘This is not what a foetus looks like at nine weeks and is extremely misleading.
‘I assume deliberately so. For example, a nine week old foetus does not have fully formed fingers and toes (it doesn’t even really have feet) and does not yet have a human shaped’ separate head and neck.’
Sarah Crook added: This is horrendous. An attack on women and a swipe at you. Solidarity, Stella – thank you for all you do for women’s rights.’
Thomas Kohurt added: ‘Saw this on the way to Wood Street this morning outside the bakery where so many families stop – amazed and saddened that it got through @CCUK_Direct. Know that your constituents are behind you on this.’
Others, including Heather in Cornwall, saw no issue with the billboards. She tweeted: ‘There is nothing wrong with educating women about what is inside them’
Others, including Heather in Cornwall, saw no issue with the billboards. She tweeted: ‘There is nothing wrong with educating women about what is inside them.
‘Many, if they saw an ultrasound of the baby, would not even consider an abortion.’
A post on the CBR UK website says the Stop Stella Campaign is ‘calling upon Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow, to stop promoting human rights abuses of children in the womb.’
Stella Creasy, who is pregnant, appeared on Loose Women on September 16 to speak about her two miscarriages
‘We are saturating Walthamstow, MP Stella Creasy’s constituency, with the humanity of the unborn child and the reality of abortion,’ it adds.
‘Whilst highlighting to constituents how their MP is working hard to promote abortion as a “human right”.
‘We are highlighting the humanity of the unborn child on billboards and advertising kiosks around Walthamstow.’
The group disagree with overturning sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act, which would give women the right to choose whether to have an abortion.
And while a spokesman for Metropolitan Police repeated a previous statement about Saturday’s protest, the force refused to comment on the billboards.
A spokesman said: ‘Police attended a small, planned protest consisting of a number of individuals at Walthamstow town centre on Saturday 28 September.
‘Officers listened to concerns about the content of parts of the protest but no criminal offences were committed or disclosed.
‘There were no arrests. The protest concluded peacefully.
‘Regarding the use of public spaces protection order, this power is not aimed to prevent lawful protest, but can be used to deter persistent unreasonable anti-social behaviour that is to the detriment of the community.’
And in response to a comment given to the Guardian saying the force had not received any complaints about the protesters’ use of posters Ms Creasey tweeted: ‘I am gobsmacked @metpoliceUK.
‘Not only did I directly speak to officers to warn them in in advance of this plan to harass and agree action last night, residents in Walthamstow also made complaints today as did I. Your claim to the @guardian is at best wrong and at worst …’
CBR UK and Clear Channel have been approached by MailOnline for comment.