AP on Polish Abortion Protests: 'Ultraconservative' Catholics vs. 'Young People'

March 29th, 2007 9:45 AM

Monika Scislowska of the Associated Press reported on Warsaw rallies in support of a complete ban on abortion in Poland. It's restricted now to the first 12 weeks and only in the cases of rape, incest, or the life of the mother. But look at the labeling contrast AP employed, the usual stereotype of the epic political battle between the ultraconservatives and the nonpartisans:

The two marches were organized by an ultraconservative Roman Catholic radio station and a right-wing political party. Mostly elderly demonstrators attended a Mass and marched through central Warsaw carrying Polish and Vatican flags. One banner had an image of a baby and the words, "Can you really kill me?"

Elsewhere in the capital, about 700 mostly young people held a rally with music and balloons in support of abortion rights.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) used labels for both sides, but were harsher on the "far right" conservatives:

Rallied by feminist and leftwing organisations, the demonstrators gathered at a central Warsaw square brandishing banners calling for "abortions rights -- rights for women" and imploring parliament to "let us decide for ourselves."

...Last week a parliamentary commission came out in favour of a proposal by the ultra-Catholic far right League of Polish Families (LPR) to have a "right to life from the moment of conception" written into the constitution, which would prevent any liberalisation of the abortion law in the future.