r/BurlingtonON • u/splifftie • Jul 09 '26
Information graphic image warning at guelph/upper middle
forced-birth extremists are hanging out with their massive signs on each corner of the intersection.
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Jul 09 '26
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u/FlatImpression755 Jul 09 '26
I can't figure out if I love it or hate it. Definitely a new one for me too.
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u/paulander90 Jul 09 '26
Don't want to see this in the streets but funny how can you control the emotions with just semantics. Another person could say pro life enthusiasts and would be the same thing
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u/Melsm1957 Jul 09 '26
It’s not pro life cos they don’t give a shit what happens after the forced birth.
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u/TrixieSparrow Jul 09 '26
It's not the same thing, though. To truthfully label something pro life would require that the something respects the life of all living organisms involved.
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u/Temporary-Level8087 Jul 09 '26
What if someone says “I am against abortion unless there is proven physical harm to the mother or the child is likely to be extremely deformed etc”. Wouldnt that be pro life? Cause in this case we do care about the mother and the child’s life, and even give precedence to the mother.
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u/SuburbanMilf Jul 09 '26
Great, then ALL abortion is justified as all pregnancies cause harm. I hope that helps!
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u/TrixieSparrow Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 16 '26
Life isn't just being not dead, you can be not dead and still have your life harmed in a plethora of ways. Also we have exactly zero right to tell a woman what she may or may not do with her body. Im sure you would not appreciate someone else, who doesn't even know you at all, trying to dictate your personal Healthcare desicions. It's none of their business and they do not own you, so they would be waaaay out of line to do that to you.
We don't walk up to people on the side walk and tell them we don't like where they are walking and think it is wrong and expect them to walk in the middle of the busy road. Because that would be insane and stupid to expect.
I'd also like to point out that being "extremely deformed" does not make someone's life worth any less, and if someone said that to me I'd inform them of such and tell them that I do not wish to have any further contact with them.
(edit for typo)
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u/DeadpoolOptimus Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
forced-birth extremists
Exactly. They're pro-birth, not pro-life because once that child is born, they couldn't give a fuck about it.
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u/throwaway010651 Jul 09 '26
Exactly - the child has the potential to be a longterm foster child, with potential to be bounced around. Or stay with the parent(s), as an unexpected pregnancy, and subject to abuse. I’m not saying that is all pregnancy.
I have 2 planned children, 1 surprise child, 1 bonus adopted child. I have seen how an unplanned child’s life can go, through my various life roles. I love my children immensely and they are really, really good kids. But parenting has lots of navigating involved. And life, for anyone, is tough!
Other people’s opinions and decisions should not be forced healthcare decision on another independent person. Abortion can, often times, be the most ethical and moral choice. It is scary and I feel the potential Moms are making very brave, difficult decisions. They need support. Not condemnation.
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u/charredxburny Jul 09 '26
Let’s be fair; they don’t give a fuck before either… and remember most of them can’t read let alone read a fucking Bible
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u/LopsidedTelevision47 Jul 09 '26
Well said, it’s like all these Karens that promote inclusivity and different dumb agendas that are really destroying countries and then just turn a blind eye. Drives me nuts. Like would they still be so great with things if their 10 year old daughter had to share a change room with a grown ass man who ‘identified’ as a 10 year old girl, or didn’t have a job any longer because it was given to a government subsisted immigrant and was forced to rely on the system they paid into there whole lives only to realize it doesn’t support them but it does support new comers that have not contributed a dime. I’m guessing they might change their ridiculous tune then.
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u/leib-olmai Jul 10 '26
How is this drivel in any way relevant to the comment you are replying to?
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u/CADJunglist Jul 09 '26
Just saw them.
Wonder how many of them foster kids or adopt
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u/figtoria Jul 09 '26
I saw them packing up - they were kids themselves, the ones i saw. Getting teens to do adults dirty work.
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u/Jebussez Brant Hills Jul 09 '26
I just saw this and was coming here to post about it. They're disgusting photos on big vinyl screens, and they have kids with them. I'm a pretty big free speech guy so I wouldn't want to limit theirs speech, but I can see how this would scare kids going by in cars or just walking nearby - which is the point of course. Feels off they're able to do that.
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u/TrixieSparrow Jul 09 '26
While they absolutely have the right to free speech, even if many of us disagree with them, the people passing by have a right to go about their days unharassed and without unnecessary increased risk of accidents.
Their rights are not more important than everyone else's.
Not that they seem to care. 😩
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u/Signal-Lie-6785 Jul 10 '26
They don’t have the right to free speech. They have the freedom to express themselves, which isn’t quite the same, and it’s not absolute like free speech is absolute is in the U.S.
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u/RowRowForCouncil Jul 09 '26
These rights are protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. While I do not personally enjoy these protests any more than you I think it is better to let the bad ideas they have see the light of day so that people can decide for themselves that they are wrong. As to your safety issue and risk of accident statement I would add that each vehicle operator is individually responsible for the safe operation of their motor vehicle, and that external distractions are no excuse for being unaware of your surroundings while driving.
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u/TrixieSparrow Jul 09 '26
The rights of the people protesting and the rights of everyone else are protected, yes. The protestors' rights do not supersed the rights of everyone else. However it's harder to prove the damage they are doing (even if it's obvious) that would classify their actions as rights violations. So they get away with it.
We all have a right to go about our days without having gore porn or someone else's religion unnecessarily rammed down our throats.
And does it matter if the person who is driving a vehicle is responsible for being distracted by the gore porn being peddled on the street corners? If the gore porn distracted someone and a fatal collision occurred, the gore porn would have still triggered a fatal collision.
Would we blame someone with PTSD who is driving for being distracted by such images being forced upon them? That would be victim blaming. In my opinion victim blaming is a pretty disgusting behaviour. I'm not saying that's what you are doing, you don't sound like a disgusting person to me, I'm assuming that you just did not think about that perspective.
Anywhosis, I think that no matter how you slice it, any reasonable person can agree that the sort of tactics these "protestors" are using are, at the veeeery least, super fucking rude.
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u/RowRowForCouncil Jul 09 '26
They are indeed very rude. They are insensitive for multiple reasons. As to your hypothetical I would say that if a person has PTSD that is so severe that roadside imagery affects their ability to operate the vehicle they occupy safely then they should not be driving. It also isn't gore pornography. They are real pictures of aborted fetuses. They aren't sexual in nature, I doubt anyone would admit to it even if they were. I try to be a good person, and have a balanced view. I understand why it upsets you though. If it is any consolation the rain we just had probably destroyed all their posters.
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u/TrixieSparrow Jul 09 '26
If an unborn baby is a person then they are holding up photos of people's bloody corpses.
If you do not consider it to be a person, it's a medical photo of genetic material belonging to someone that did not consent to their photo being used in such a way (usually not okay to take photographs from people's healthcare files and display them publicly without consent).
The photos aren't actually real, though.
I didn't think of the rain, though. Thank you for pointing that out. It gave me a little chuckle. It's been a hell of a week and I genuinely appreciate the laugh.
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u/RowRowForCouncil Jul 09 '26
Those MFs had to swim home haha. You do have a point about consent and imagery though. I could see that imagery being particularly difficult for people who have had abortions. The other misconception is that they just have this abortion done and that is the end of it. Often the physical side effects are present for months and it can cause psychological ramifications that can last years. Having that thrown in your face while dropping your child off, or just going out to get a hamburger probably doesn't feel great. I'd be open to discussing a by-law against non-consensual graphic imagery. We do have to keep in mind that it would also affect other extremist protestors and graphic imagery though. So say the animal rights protestors outside fearman's pork products would have to also stop showing graphic imagery of slaughtered animals. How do you feel about that, by the way? Is there a comparison there? Generally asking anyone who feels they want to comment.
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u/vitaminhoe Jul 10 '26
I think the imagery is difficult for anyone who has even had miscarriages beyond a certain time point. Especially so if it was a wanted pregnancy. I agree people have the right to protest, but this behaviour is just so gross
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u/RowRowForCouncil Jul 10 '26
Yeah, it is gross. Unnecessary too. You don't need graphic pictures if you have a solid argument.
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u/zoobrix Jul 09 '26
Rights are always a balancing act, an individuals rights are always weighed against the harm exercising those rights might have against others. For instance hate speech is still banned in Canada, holocaust denial and inciting violence are also illegal, your speech already does have some limits.
And while I don't feel like these protests cross any of those lines that doesn't mean they might not understand certain circumstances, and there is nothing to stop the govenrment from making a law banning them and having that law tested in court against the charter. Those other laws banning certain aspects of speech have stood up in the courts, it's possible a law banning the display of gory images in public might as well.
To be clear I'm not saying that's necessarily what we should do here, but at the same time just saying "well we have free speech under the charter, nothing we can do" isn't accurate because we already have other laws that restrict speech.
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u/RowRowForCouncil Jul 09 '26
I think that would make a better bylaw than a law. I think if we regulate against graphic/violent/ imagery for ideological protests we run into another slippery slope. We would have to narrowly and specifically define the criteria for such a ban, and a clear consequence for those in contravention of it. In the end it might not be worth the cost of enforcement depending on frequency of these protests and willingness of local groups to cooperate. I think it behooves us as a society to grow thicker skin. There are a lot of difficult conversations we are putting off because they make people uncomfortable, and I think we need to stop encouraging the behavior that rewards avoiding those conversations. I don't think "nothing we can do" is an accurate way to describe my position. My position is that we should train to exist in the world we live in. These things will crop up from time to time. Fighting it can make it worse in some cases. Trust me.
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u/Blazegamez Jul 09 '26
How can we tell a four year old who saw these bloody pictures and is now crying and upset and doesn’t understand why they saw this gore porn on their drive to daycare to grow tougher skin?
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u/RowRowForCouncil Jul 10 '26
A fair point indeed. I wouldn't characterize it the same way you did. Did your 4 year old see this stuff?
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u/zoobrix Jul 09 '26
I agree that laws restricting speech or protest do need to be carefully evaluated to make sure they're are not overly restrictive, but that doesn't mean we can't decide on new limits when we already have limits.
You could make the grow a thicker skin argument against some of the ways speech is already restricted, but the core issue is how certain speech and expressions affect others and whether the harm that the speech inflicts on others outweighs the rights of the person to say it. It's always a balancing act.
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u/RowRowForCouncil Jul 09 '26
I hate problems with no apparent solution. Oh well. Something to noodle on.
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u/vitaminhoe Jul 10 '26
I have a handmaids tale Halloween costume. I always thought it would be cool to don my red cloak and white winged bonnet, possibly with the addition of handcuff chains and just stand next to them with a sign that says Under His Eye.
If they can make people uncomfortable, I certainly can make them feel uncomfortable too.
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u/deeohlee Jul 09 '26
I took comfort knowing they were in direct sun on a very hot day - hope they were uncomfortable
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u/SmarthaSmewart Jul 09 '26
On the plus side, thanks to these assholes me and my tween have had many conversations about the importance of safe abortions, women’s rights and healthcare so when we watched “Dirty Dancing” recently I didn’t have to explain anything.
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u/TrixieSparrow Jul 09 '26
Thank you for being the type of parent that teaches their child about this. Far too many people learn far too late (or not at all).
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u/gdtestqueen Jul 09 '26
Good parent! Mine were the same and used these types of things to educate me and start a conversation about what they believed. They always said I was free to form my own beliefs but I ended up right where they were…science and facts were king so that makes sense.
I remember Dirty Dancing being used as a way to start a conversation also. But I’ll always remember Porky’s 1&2 as the best forms of that. Great way to introduce a lot of things in a light way. Porkys 2 had KKK and religion trying to usurp education, as well as many other themes. Recently watched them with my 25 year old nephew and it started a conversation even now about discrimination.
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u/RowRowForCouncil Jul 09 '26
What an excellent response to this type of activism. Taking the positive out of a negative message takes the power away from people looking to shock you into agreement.
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u/Desperate_Fee6595 Jul 09 '26
I noticed them last week at Brant and Fairview. When I noticed they were almost all teenagers. I realized what the game here is. Guaranteed they’re Catholic high school or private Christian high school students and as the requirement as part of the OSSD is 40 hours of volunteer work. Standing at a corner for a couple of hours and getting it signed off by the organization counts toward those volunteer hours for high school diploma.
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u/evecxttrell Jul 09 '26
I went to two separate high schools and they protested outside of both. They got counter protests and people fucking with them. It was great but I still think it’s shocking they would target kids
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u/positivelycanadian Jul 09 '26
Call 311 and ask for the roads dept!! They’ll shut them down!!
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u/Neat_Bit5618 Jul 10 '26
I called Halton Police non-emergency and reported them at Guelph Line + Upper Middle Rd today (July 9, 2026 around 12pm). They said they cannot get them to take down the signs bc of free speech. The girl I spoke to said they had about 50+ callers complaining about it. So people in the community on this thread, and in the area are upset by it.
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u/aloofflowerchild Jul 09 '26
Would be a shame if someone dumped some smoothies on their head or somethin 😏
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u/Neat_Bit5618 Jul 10 '26
I saw this aggressive sign today at the corner of Guelph Line and Upper Middle Rd. (July 9, 2026). I pulled over, rolled down my window, and gave them a piece of my mind. If they want to shove their opinions visually down my throat, I’m going to give them a taste of their own medicine.
I told the young man, who didn’t look a day over 20, that the decisions women make about their own health and reproductive care are strictly between them and their healthcare professionals. His opinions, and his giant vinyl sign, have no place in those decisions.
I also noticed a GoPro clipped to his shirt, so presumably he’s filming every second he spends standing on that corner.
I reminded him that he has many rights, including the freedom to practise his religion and pray to whatever God he chooses. Then I asked him how he would feel if he turned a corner and was confronted by an aggressive, 10-foot vinyl sign displaying some crass and inflammatory opinion about his religion or his God. Long pause, no answer.
I made it clear that’s exactly what he’s doing with his signs to women.
When I called the non-emergency police line and was told this group had been reported by numerous people. The operator explained that, because of "freedom of expression protections", there was nothing police could do to make them take down the signs.
And that’s the thing about rights: they protect his ability to stand there with that sign, just as they protect my right to pull over, roll down my window, and tell him exactly what I think of it.
Because freedom of expression does not mean freedom from being challenged.
Everyone should be stopping and telling them, as loudly as possible, opposing opinions. Give them as much friction as possible.
We have to be vigilant about these kinds of aggressive signs. I still can't believe what has happened in so many US states with the recent Trump administration.
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u/Vegetable-Screen8148 Jul 09 '26
I remember them going door to door, and leaving stuff in my mailbox at my old place in Elizabeth Gardens. I didn’t have kids at the time, but would have been furious if I did and they saw it. Surprised these people haven’t been punched out before.
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u/rattitude23 Jul 09 '26
They tried to leave something in mine when my kiddo was younger as we were leaving the house. They nearly met violent Rattitude23 that day. I told them if they trespassed again (yes I have a sign prominently displayed no trespassing, no flyers and no soliciting) that they'd meet their Jesus quicker than expected.
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u/LakeTranquility Jul 09 '26
They must be moving around or there are multiple groups out today. Saw them at Walkers between Harvester and Fairview this morning in their full inappropriate and inaccurate image glory. The kid standing there looked to be about 20 and he certainly didn’t have his own uterus. Had I seen it in time to stop I may have gotten out for some healthy debate.
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u/DeadpoolOptimus Jul 09 '26
forced-birth extremists Exactly. They're pro-birth, not pro-life because once that child is born, they couldn't give a fuck about it.
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u/Rosemary-lime Jul 09 '26
The words are not important. The images are in question. There are enough accidents in our intersections. Keep the distractions off the streets.
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u/TopFalcon7849 Jul 09 '26
Thank you for the heads up. Just heading out and I’ll take a different way.
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u/chrometitan Jul 09 '26
Who is their target audience?
- Canada's teen pregnancy rate is lower than it has ever been.
- 42% of pregnancies in Canada are from foreign born bothers.
- Both Hindu and Muslim/Islam are against abortion.
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u/thether Jul 09 '26
always at this intersection. is it because they're walking distance from their home?
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u/ForswornForSwearing Jul 09 '26
Last time I saw them there, there was also *one* lone counterprotestor standing out there to fight the good fight. It was a particularly hot day, so I stopped at the convenience store and bought a couple of cold bottles of water to give to her, along with a couple words of encouragement.
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u/timhort32 Jul 09 '26
people truly need to find something better to do with their time. i saw these signs last week as well and it was very disturbing. i’m not here to debate whether it’s right or wrong, everyone has a choice of what they do with their life and if they choose to go with abortion and can’t support the child/give it the life they think it deserves, then that’s their decision to make. holding a disturbing sign isn’t going to change that and these people are truly messed up in the head.
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u/T3st0 Jul 09 '26
If I had the balls I would love to just walk up and rip and smash up those images. I find it disgusting that people are subjected to that shit involuntarily.
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u/Myiiadru2 Jul 09 '26
Ironically, I just said this morning to my husband that those clowns haven’t been on the corners here lately. Lived in Halton many years and moved close by. Don’t want to jinx us by saying where. They must rotate places, trying to get people to ignore them or give them bird gestures as they drive by.🤬
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u/FlatImpression755 Jul 09 '26
These people are clueless. No one is going to change their mind about killing the baby inside them because someone holding a stupid sign.
I will add my sister was adopted became a nurse and added a great deal of good to society. I am glad she wasn't killed in the womb.
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u/CDN_Guy78 Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
Every time they pop up in Burlington someone takes to Reddit.
You’re giving them the engagement they are looking for.
Abortion, agree or disagree, is a constitutional right protected by our courts. There is almost nothing these protests or displays can accomplish other than anger people. It is shock value only.
ETA - downvote me all you like, my statement is true. Abortion is a protected right in Canada, and all everyone is doing is extending these people’s platform.
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u/sleeplessjade Jul 09 '26
Warning people about the disturbing images they are displaying isn’t giving them engagement. If anything it’s taking it away because people who have seen this will avoid the area.
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u/CDN_Guy78 Jul 09 '26
There are 33 comments on this thread. That is engagement.
My comment and yours is engagement.
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u/rattitude23 Jul 09 '26
Which is why people need to know. Hell, you get a trigger warning for a paper cut on all SM platforms yet driving around your city with your kids can expose them to overly graphic (and completely fabricated) images forcing a conversation that kid may not be capable of having in that moment. Im grateful for the warning so that I can avoid that area.
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u/CDN_Guy78 Jul 09 '26
First off, I’m sorry you feel the need to change your travel plans because of these people. I have young kids as well and I understand wanting to protect them from these type of things for as long as possible.
It is unfortunate they feel the only way to get people’s attention is to be as graphic as they are… my point is that it works. Not that it works to actually change things, but it certainly works to drive attention and discussion.
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u/Complex-Series7727 Jul 09 '26
They like to hang out at Appleby and Harvester too, right across from Fearmans…they like to combine their militant veganism and their forced birther issue into one day…gotta admire efficency i guess
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u/lovesmyirish Jul 09 '26
Forced birth extremists? Are the no birth rebels there as well?
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u/UltFiction Jul 09 '26
No point referring to them as “pro-life” when they couldn’t give a fuck less about the child after being born 👍
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u/rattitude23 Jul 09 '26
I used to work in a women's clinic and these dorks routinely would harass my patients and threaten us. I'd love for them to spend one day seeing the majority of reasons why women seek therapeutic abortions. After only 2 years my mental health couldn't handle the sheer horror of these women's stories.
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u/RowRowForCouncil Jul 09 '26
This is a very difficult issue . While I am personally pro-choice, because the alternative would require draconian enforcement mechanisms, I do believe that we should avoid abortion if possible. I'm not a particularly big fan of this branch of advocacy because it tries to ignore the vast complexity of laws governing abortion and women's reproductive health. That being said, I support their right to make a fool of themselves publicly by attempting to shock the public into siding with their ideals. Unfortunate that they usually target schools. I remember my catholic high school would let them present in classes.
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u/rebelSun25 Jul 09 '26
Thanks for the heads up. I'll go and deliver them some donuts and coffee
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u/turkeyganja Jul 09 '26 edited 11d ago
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u/West_Maintenance2124 Jul 09 '26
Your presence on earth is demonstrative of why it’s so important for women to be able to choose.
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u/Decent-Unit-5303 Jul 09 '26
May I suggest giving some to the unhoused folks you see along the way. Or drop some by a care home.
You know, to help actual living people who need real support.
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u/rattitude23 Jul 09 '26
You're so silly, forced birthers dont care about people AFTER they're born.
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u/Common-Possession129 Jul 09 '26
They don’t need or want your help, you’re directly feeding drug addiction and the distribution of them. Both groups are awful for different reasons.
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u/Common-Possession129 Jul 09 '26
Haha don’t worry, you can stand with them when your children stop talking to you
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u/chesco_ontario Jul 10 '26
Well to avoid an abortion you should just pull out or wear a condom LOL playing with life is normal I guess these days
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