Anti-abortion protest at Utrecht Science Park angers bystanders

Monday afternoon, September 22, around 11:00 am. People at Utrecht Science Park suddenly hear a bagpipe tune. Civitas Christiana is staging a protest against abortion, just like they did last year. The men are dressed in suits, wearing berets and sashes, and waving a big flag. They also carry a banner that says: 'Pray and fight to end the sin of abortion.' They attract the attention of bystanders and passersby at the bus stop on Heidelberglaan, between the cycle path and the tram tracks, as they hand out flyers listing nine reasons to protect unborn children.

Civitas Christiana
Civitas Christiana is a conservative Christian organisation that is part of an international network of autonomous organisations known as Tradition, Family, and Property (TFP). They have campaigned against homosexuality, 'climate alarmists' and the so-called 'Islamisation of society'. They have also demonstrated support for Black Pete, a character from Dutch folklore that is viewed by part of society as a problematic representation of Black people. 

Holding a drum in his hands and wearing a lion pin on his lapel, a spokesperson for Civitas Christiana tells DUB that the group consists of Catholic men, most of them from California and Belgium. He also explained that they are campaigning in several university cities because 'scientists know that abortion is murder.'

Civitas Christiana. Photo: DUB

Opposition
The activists soon encounter considerable resistance. Groups of opponents gathered in front of the men almost as soon as they started protesting. When Lianne, a student of Preventive Youth Care & Education, heard about the demonstration, she immediately went outside with the words 'I'm the boss of my own womb' written on her stomach. As a member of Samen Naar De Kliniek (Going Together to the Abortion Clinic, Ed.), an organisation in which women offer to accompany other women to the abortion clinic, Lianne believes it is important to voice a counter-opinion. Someone else quickly arrives with a pan to bang on.

After a while, more people come to watch, and the counter-protest swells even more as other students join the group. People shout over the music and bang on pans. They repeat the words 'Shame on you' and “My body, my choice', and carry signs saying: 'Not your body, none of your business.' Most of the people DUB approached on Monday were unaware that Civitas Christiana was going to stage a protest on campus that day. They heard about the commotion and decided to join the counter-protest spontaneously.

After the protest, a student who lives at Utrecht Science Park and took part in the counter-demonstration said: ‘I found it pretty scary that such a protest was taking place here at the university. At the same time, I was very angry. I thought: “Not on my doorstep!”’ 

A confrontation ensues when the activists start shouting through a megaphone. The two groups then face each other. While the counter-protesters wave rainbow flags, Civitas Christiana continues to repeat their slogans. Meanwhile, a pro-life activist films the students.

The counter-demonstration. Photo: DUB

Discussion
Several students attempt to engage in conversation with the activists, which sometimes leads to heated discussions. ‘At first, when they were just handing out flyers, we could still talk to some of the men, but after that, it was like talking to a brick wall,’ says one of the counter-protesters. Ultimately, there didn't seem to be any meaningful dialogue. ‘We really couldn't talk,' agrees another student, while someone else says the men were spreading misinformation.

Shortly before 1:00 p.m., several police officers arrive and speak with demonstrators on both sides. At one point, the men from Civitas Christiana pack up their banners, to the applause of the students. They walk to the corner of Heidelberglaan and Bolognalaan, pursued by the students, and the demonstration continues there for a while. A group of girls hold up a sign that reads: 'Castration can also be learned.' They believe that the protesters from Civitas Christiana should take a look at themselves. 'They are all men and they are talking about our bodies.' A little later, the activists leave De Uithof.

The two demonstrations facing each other. Photo: DUB

Intimidated
DUB received several messages from people reporting that they felt intimidated by Civitas Christiana. They felt this way not only because of the flags and clothing, but also because the men were filming counter-demonstrators with cameras. Last year, images of counter-demonstrators at Utrecht Science Park were posted online by TFP Student Action Europe, accompanied by the title Lefties Losing It.

Some wondered whether the university had given permission for this protest and, if so, why. It turns out that the men had applied to the municipality for permission to hold the demonstration, and the municipality granted it. The municipality states that people are allowed to exercise their right to protest as long as the demonstration is within the law and does not cause traffic disruption. The university played no role in this situation.