Pro-life rally to go ahead tonight as question marks remain over abortion campaign lights at Belfast City Hall
A pro-life rally is set to go ahead tonight outside Belfast City Hall, as question marks remained over whether a planned illumination in support of an abortion campaign would happen.
Opponents of lighting the landmark have characterised the move as turning a major public building in the heart of Northern Ireland’s capital city into an “abortion billboard”.
But at the time of publication it was still unclear whether or not city hall will go green to mark International Safe Abortion Day.
With just a couple of hours to go until the lights were due to be switched on, officials and politicians were on tenterhooks waiting for council lawyers to give their verdict on a challenge lodged by the DUP.
Without that verdict the illumination is on pause.
Technically, however, it would still be possible for city hall to be lit up tonight.
If lawyers say the challenge isn’t sound, the illumination can take place; if they say it is valid, however, the issue has to go back to the council for more debates. That could even happen at an emergency meeting of the city authority that could be rushed into place tonight.
But that’s assuming the lawyers come back with a verdict today at all.
As the countdown clock kept ticking, pro-life group Precious Life confirmed they’re going ahead with a rally outside city hall tonight come what may.
They were due to march along Donegall Place to the landmark at around 6.15pm, arriving at city hall around one hour before sunset – when the abortion campaign lights might be turned on.
In a statement released ahead of the rally, which is to be addressed by DUP and TUV politicians among others, Precious Life argued city hall “should represent and unite our whole community”.
Said the group’s director, Bernadette Smyth: “Whatever happens with the proposed illumination, we want the message of those who stand for the protection of unborn life to be seen and heard.
“We will stand peacefully, carrying lights as a sign that every human life has value and that the unborn child must not be forgotten.
“Tonight is about making a peaceful public witness. We are asking people from across Northern Ireland to come together, bring their families and friends, carry a light and stand with us for life.”
A private citizen has launched a lawsuit over the issue, while a petition against the lights organised by Precious Life has been signed by more than 20,000 people.
Ms Smyth said that amounts to “thousands of people making their voices heard throughout this campaign”, adding: “Tonight, we will continue to make that voice visible in the heart of Belfast.
“We will walk together, we will stand together, and we will shine a light for the unborn child who has no voice.”
Taking place on September 28, International Safe Abortion Day is spearheaded by Philippines-based organisation the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights. It calls on governments to expand access to terminations and give money to “grassroots and feminist organisations”.
The day is not officially recognised by the United Nations, though campaigners have tried to make that happen.
Belfast Council documents say the request to illuminate city hall came from the National Women’s Council of Ireland, a cross-border umbrella body headquartered in Dublin.