Thousands of runners march against abortion in The Hague, including counter-demonstrations

Today the annual ‘March for Life’ takes place in The Hague in which the anti-abortion movement Schreeuw om Leven demonstrates against abortion. Several thousand people walk the route that passes the House of Representatives and the Hofvijver. Opposing views can also be heard, including from BNNVARA, through an “unintentional sponsor rush”.

Before the march started, there was a demonstration on the Malieveld with various speakers from the anti-abortion movement. In addition to the Malieveld, there was also a counter-protest by the Collective Free Choice. NOS reporter Harro Brouwer previously spoke to Schreeuw om Leven’s Arthur Alderliesten. “We fight for unborn life,” she said in it NOS Radio 1 Newspaper. “The woman has the right, this is established by law, but we believe that even the unborn life has the right to life”.

Protesters in The Hague today:

The BNNVARA program Grab the power and Ava, a Dutch interest group advocating for free choice and good care in contraception and abortion, are organizing a law enforcement action: an “involuntary sponsored march” for march participants.

For each of the anti-abortion protesters, people have been found who want to donate to Ava. According to the organisation, more than 62,000 euros have been raised so far. The proceeds are used, among other things, for research and the provision of information, for example, to the media and healthcare professionals.

Ava says in a press release that she wants to “hug to death” anti-abortion protesters. “By turning their repressive ideas into something positive and marching them against themselves and thus in favor of financial support for the Ava interest group,” she seems. BNNVARA and Ava stand by to “thank anti-abortion protesters for their efforts.”

NOS reporter Harro Brouwer spoke with BNNVARA presenter Tim Hofman along the route of the march. “The program Grab the power left on conservatism. We asked ourselves: when it comes to limiting human rights, such as the right to abortion, what can be done?”

Such an involuntarily sponsored ride is a German idea, says Hofman. Among other things, he asked his supporters about the YouTube program BOOS to sponsor the protesters. “We have assumed 10,000 participants, but I don’t think they will reach us. In reality we are just here shouting ‘thank you’ for the money”.

NOS Stories spoke last year to young people who are campaigning against abortion.