Protesters took to the streets of Warsaw, Gdansk and other Polish cities for the third straight night on Friday, days after Poland’s near-total abortion ban came into effect.
People shouted pro-choice slogans like “You’ve messed with women,” “Hey, hey, hey, abortion is ok,” and “Liberty, equality, abortion on demand.” Multiple anti-government chants were also heard.
Thousands marched in Poland for the third day in a row, protesting a near-total abortion ban. At least theee people were arrested. The law only allows abortion in cases of rape, incest or if the mother’s life is at risk. In 2019, just 2% of abortions in Poland were for those reasons.
Poland’s capital, Warsaw, authorities blocked the protesters at multiple junctions, redirecting crowds on many occasions. Tear gas was also used against the demonstrators.
Pro Abortion protesters demonstrate on street across Poland’s cities the new law bans abortions for the most common reason women seek them the fetal abnormalities.
Groups say the law violates human rights and will have “devastating” effects on disadvantaged women and girls.
Fewer than 2,000 legal abortions are performed in Poland each year, a majority of which are performed on the grounds of fetal malformations. Women’s groups estimate that as many as 200,000 more Polish women seek abortions each year, either abroad or illegally at home.
Media agencies.
