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Solidarity with Katie

Katie* is facing trial for ending a pregnancy, and is living with the stress and trauma of an ongoing police investigation into her NHS-prescribed abortion. This is all due to an outdated law from 1861 that makes abortion a criminal offence.

Abortion is healthcare, and should be treated as such. This is why Level Up is campaigning for the outdated 1861 law to be removed, and abortion to be decriminalised. Until we achieve that, the most important thing we can do is show solidarity with women who are still being prosecuted under these archaic laws.

It’s crucial that Katie knows the public are on her side – please share a message of support, and we will pass them onto Katie. 

* Katie is not her real name. 

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messages of solidarity

So sorry to hear about this, Katie. It is further evidence of the fact that Britain is not a gender equal country at all, and that unwanted pregnancy is still being used to judge and punish women under archaic and patriarchal ideas of “morality”. As if the decision to end a pregnancy is one lightly made. And – the elephant in the room – as if women just become pregnant on our own!! Keep battling – we will win this. Sorry again that in the meantime you are being subjected to such injustice. Jennifer X

Jennifer Akdemir

Dear Katie, I want you to know that you have my full support during this time. The fact that you are being prosecuted under such an outdated and unjust law is deeply concerning and outright disgusting. Abortion is healthcare, and no one should be criminalised for making decisions about their own body!!! You are not alone in this fight; many people stand with you, advocating for the decriminalisation of abortion and the end of these archaic laws. Stay strong, and remember that your bravery and resilience are inspiring to many.

Dear Katie, I’m so sorry to learn about what you experienced and am furious on your behalf that something so unfathomable could happen to you. I spent a night in hospital due to a gynaecological procedure and felt suicidal, so can only imagine how you must have felt. You should have been safe and protected, not punished. I know words from strangers can’t undo the harm done to you, but I hope it brings you some comfort to know that people like me are on your side, sending love and compassion. I will continue to support Level Up’s campaign to decriminalise abortion and hope the legal system sees sense over your treatment (the moral crime is entirely theirs).

Hi Katie, Your story has made me so sad. It chills me that you have been treated this way simply for accessing medication. It’s disgusting. I offer you love, support and sisterhood. I have terminated two pregnancies, one surgically and one using pills as prescribed by a doctor. You should have been treated with love, compassion and respect. It is what you deserve in the face of a medical emergency. I am sure you know this but sometimes we need to hear it: it is not your fault. It is infuriating that after an experience like this you now have to face a bogus court case. You should be recovering from this traumatic health incident surrounded by love, not judgement. Sending you love, and solidarity, I will follow your case and hope very much to see compassion and justice throw the bloody thing out of the courts so you can heal. Jo

Hi Katie (sorry I can’t use your real name), I am so so sorry to hear about the terrible time you’ve been having. I used to be an NHS doctor, and as far as I’m concerned it should be the midwife who reported you, not you, who is facing investigation. Every nurse and doctor who works in the NHS is taught from day one that patient confidentiality is an absolute, only to be broken in very specific circumstances. Your circumstance was not one of them, and she had no right to do what she did. It must be unbelievably stressful to have to go through an abortion and then emergency surgery, so to then be faced with criminal charges doesn’t bear thinking about. It makes me very angry that women are not allowed to own their own bodies. It makes me even angrier when I hear about other women as well as men interfering like this. I have been campaigning for women to have free access to abortion services, as well as for women in prisons to have proper access to maternity care. It seems that there has been a sudden increase in the number of women in your situation being prosecuted, which surely has no basis in today’s society, and we have to work hard to stop it. I’m sending you hope and strength and sisterly love, and the strongest wishes that all the charges against you are dropped. Good luck and stay strong, you have done nothing wrong. Diana x

Diana Brighouse

Dear Katie* I just wanted to say how sorry I was hear about what you are going through and how you have been treated. It’s only in recent years that I have come to understand the kinds of issues facing women in some of our institutions when they are at their most vulnerable. Women in these situations should be treated with care and compassion and not subjected to what I consider to be institutional abuse. I hope it helps in some small way to know how many people care and are campaigning against the treatment you have received. With love Teresa x

I am so sorry that ‘Katie’ or any woman suffers such cruel behaviour by NHS and police system. To have to have an abortion is bad enough, without all of this criminalising it. Personally, I have never needed an abortion but have experienced such NHS cruelty when lying on hosp bed miscarrying an early foetus. After the curt nurse said that I had ‘finished bleeding’, she told me that I could ‘go home how’ as i was not pregnant. No kind words ar compassion. I was mid forties and had always very much wanted a baby – I was heart broken – but had to get up and make my way home alone. The pregnancy followed a date rape situation which was horrible but i accepted it (didn’t report it) wondering if i might have become pregnant. . . I do believe that men should be held responsible for every pregnancy esp when raped or coerced into having sex. Perhaps best if all men were neutered in early teens. This can be reversed in almost every case – and it is a simple quick minor surgery – much safer that all the contraceptives which women endure. Good luck to all women

Dear *Katie, the world is unfair, but you are not alone. We will be with you and not let them take your right to choose. I’ve been through abortion and even though I’ve made my decision before becoming pregnant I was made to feel bad about it by people who don’t know me or my circumstances. I don’t regret doing it I just regret that I didn’t tell the people who I dealt with what I think about their opinion. Your body, your choice. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. You got this! We will fight for you! Big hugs xxx Sabine

I’m so sorry to hear that you’re being prosecuted – I really don’t think that is at all fair and very much hope that with the right personal and legal support behind you, right will prevail and you will be found innocent. You’ve done nothing wrong and you shouldn’t be punished. I very much hope that the law will be changed and you and other people in your position won’t find yourselves on the receiving end of an outdated law which is totally inappropriate in the modern age. I wish you all the very best. Please look after yourself. Best wishes, Amanda, London

Amanda

Hi “Katie”, I just want to let you know that you are seen and loved, even by people that you have never met and even though you can’t see us, we stand with you. I know you know that you have done nothing wrong and should never have been made to feel as if you have and to experience the trauma that you have, but I just wanted to reinforce that and also say how sorry I am that this has happened. I have had two abortions and one child so have seen both sides and know that no one gets to make or judge this decision except for you. Abortion is healthcare and what is best for you, is best.

Becca Thomson

Dear Katie, I am so angry and frustrated and sorry that this happened (and is still happening) to you. Abortion is healthcare, responsible abortion-providing dating scans etc- is vital. You were failed by the NHS and the government on your moment of greatest need. I see you, I support you unwaveringly, and while I’m not Christian, I will make a petition to the Old Gods for Justice. Finally- the midwife should be ashamed. Her whole career is supposed to be about supporting and advocating for women, not condemning and judging. I stand shoulder to shoulder with you

Sam B