The battle over Ireland’s Eighth Amendment is shaping up to be one of the most bitterly divisive in decades.
The amendment, which criminalises safe abortion for Irish women in Ireland, is likely to be voted on by the public within the next eighteen months, and people took to the streets today in order to protest its possible repeal.
In April, a Citizen’s Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour (87%) of doing away with the amendment as it currently exists. The assembly further voted that abortions up to 12 weeks should be available to Irish women without restriction as to reasons.
However, there are plenty of people in Ireland who do not want to see these changes put in place, and many of them marched through Dublin today, sparking contentious debate on social media.
https://twitter.com/SpellenBee/status/881157150952837120
https://twitter.com/earley/status/881157023550799874
In amongst many “Save the 8th” signs, one smiling protester appeared to be carrying a photo of Hitler side-by-side with what seemed to be an aborted foetus. WARNING: Graphic image below.
https://twitter.com/BooRadAllie/status/881155760901824519
The debate wasn’t just happening on social media, however. Counter-protesters on O’Connell Street also unfurled banners of their own in opposition to the Rally For Life.
Best sign at the #rallyforlife pic.twitter.com/co045nOT9G
— Erica (@Ericaaaww) July 1, 2017
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