Pro-life organizers in B.C. confirm that three demonstrators were arrested at a prayer vigil outside the Everywoman’s Abortuary in Vancouver April 30.
John Hof, president of Campaign Life Coalition B.C., said none of the three were breaking an injunction at the abortion clinic when they were arrested. He said the three people arrested were well known to the clinic staff.
“We are certain that they were singled out from the group to set an example for the other demonstrators,” said Hof.
The three arrested are: Christine Hendrix, a board member of CLCBC and picketing co-coordinator; Brian Breton, a long time activist; and Gordon Watson, another activist with a history of legal battles to end abortion funding.
They requested there be no publicity immediately after the arrests because they said it would give “abortionists another platform from which to say that all we do is harass and intimidate.”
CLC has hired Ace Henderson, who represented pro-life groups in the Supreme Court hearing of the Sue Rodriguez right-to-die case. Hof said with the legal counsel which the group has hired “it looks good” for the three arrested at the prayer vigil. He said they were arrested for “merely walking up and down in front of the child-killing centre.”
Hof says the arrest of people on a peaceful vigil indicates “an attempt by the clinic to expand the injunction.”
“To expand it any further would effectively eliminate the freedom of speech of any person who objects to government-funded baby killing.”
He estimates costs for the case could in the range of $25,000. He has begun a special campaign to raise funds to offset the costs.
Meanwhile the last rescuer in jail, Lane Walker, is set to gain freedom in September, Hof reports.
