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From Fox News: Scottish police arrested a 74-year-old grandmother on Thursday for offering conversation to women contemplating abortions because she was in a so-called buffer zone, which criminalizes pro-life speech.
Just days after Vice President JD Vance warned European leaders about rising censorship at the Munich Security Conference, Rose Docherty was arrested in Glasgow, Scotland near the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for holding a sign that said: “Coercion is a crime, here to talk if you want.”
Docherty was the first person to be arrested and charged under The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act, which went into effect in September 2024, the BBC reported.
The law prohibits any protests or vigils from taking place within 200m or 656ft of 30 clinics offering abortion services in Scotland, but the law specifies that the Safe Access Zone could be extended if considered appropriate.
Lois McLatchie Miller, a Scottish spokesperson for Alliance Defending Freedom International, said in a statement to Fox News Digital, “It’s devastating to see an innocent, 74-year-old woman handcuffed and arrested just for offering a consensual conversation. JD Vance was right to raise concerns – free speech has been eroded in Scotland to a worrying extent.”
The incident reportedly happened on Feb. 19.
“Everyone has the right to a consensual conversation,” Docherty argued. “I simply made myself available for a chat, should anybody like to approach me and speak about any matter on their mind. I didn’t breach the rules of the buffer zone – I didn’t harass, intimidate, or even seek to influence anyone. I simply stood there, available to speak with love and compassion.”
WATCH:
THIS is what Rose Docherty, aged 74, was arrested for in Scotland.
Holding a sign inviting people to talk, if they want to.👇 pic.twitter.com/kkLri73gLc
— Lois McLatchie Miller (@LoisMcLatch) February 20, 2025
74-year-old Rose Docherty has been arrested for silently praying and holding a sign outside of an abortion facility in Scotland.
It read: “Coercion is a crime. Here to talk, only if you want.” pic.twitter.com/4xg46KrDXN
— Live Action (@LiveAction) February 21, 2025
🚨NEWS ALERT: 74-year-old Rose Docherty has been ARRESTED in Scotland under the notorious “buffer zone” law called out by JD Vance 🚨🏴
She stood silently and held a sign reading “coercion is a crime, hear to talk, only if you want”
Consensual conversation is not a crime‼️ pic.twitter.com/UOZc1exLrh
— Lois McLatchie Miller (@LoisMcLatch) February 19, 2025
Context: The QE Hospital is a gigantic complex. The main entrance , including bus station, is nowhere near where Rose Docherty was silently standing. Nobody was being harassed. Also the area is surrounded by houses. Praying silently in homes is not allowed in Scotland! https://t.co/cniB4agQBg pic.twitter.com/0z6WMMJVfG
— RoseScot (@MrsMcGlumpher) February 20, 2025
Below is a video clip from Vice President JD Vance’s recent speech at Munich, as he ripped into the Scottish government for their crackdown on free speech.
Rose Docherty’s recent arrest justified every iota of Vance’s criticisms of the overreach. pic.twitter.com/3A5f9cxBnl
— Rod Lampard (@rod_lampard) February 24, 2025
“A 74-year-old woman has become the first person to be arrested and charged under a Scottish law banning protests outside abortion clinics.” Europe’s ruling class is not n full self-destruction mode. https://t.co/AENLKz9L21
— Helen Raleigh (@HRaleighspeaks) February 20, 2025
Grandmother arrested for holding sign offering conversation outside Scottish hospital performing abortions https://t.co/lLYwWjxuzU
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 27, 2025
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