Anti-abortion stand causes stir at show
Row over free speech after woman complains about display of foetus dolls
Afree- speech row has erupted after a woman complained to the Hawke’s Bay A&P Show about an anti-abortion stand that displayed foetus dolls.
Michaela Smith said she was disgusted by the dolls, displayed at various stages of development on the front of pro-life group Voice for Life’s stand.
Smith said she thought she was supposed to be at an agricultural and pastoral show, not a place for politicised protest.
“That’s literally what A&P stands for, and I just thought there’s a time and a place for that, and the A&P show, when you are out with your family, is not the place to see that.”
The stand has been in place at the show for many years.
Voice for Life volunteer Kevina Ward said the group had a right to be there.
“It’s freedom of choice, freedom of expression, we are still able to put our point of view across.”
Ward said they were not at the show to ram their opinions down anyone’s throat, but wanted to help women make informed decisions.
She said walking past the foetus dolls was no different to walking past a stand of alcohol.
“It’s your absolute choice to ignore this, or you can say, yes they’re babies and move on.”
She said they didn’t have to fit the genre of “agricultural and pastoral” to be at the show.
“You’ve got turmeric here, you’ve got health here, you’ve got underwear there, you’ve got beds here, you’ve got toys over there, they’re not agricultural either.”
Smith said the stand relied on shock and awe because it included developed foetuses “which aren’t even the ones that they terminate”.
She said was glad she didn’t have her kids with her when she walked past the stand.
“If I did, they would have wanted to play with the dolls, and it would have been a big, embarrassment.”
Hawke’s Bay A&P Society general manager Sally Jackson said it took a neutral view on its stall holders.
“We’ve got all sorts of diverse stall holders from different politicians to different sellers of different products. I totally understand that everybody has a different point of view.”
" . . . The A&P show, when you are out with your family, is not the place to see that." Michaela Smith