By Lucy Caulkett-
An MP has called for misogyny to be treated as a hate crime following an anti-abortion campaign against her.Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow, East London joined forces with Waltham Forest councillors who have set up a motion for harassment of women to be classed as a hate crime.
Creasy believes the law does not adequately address violence and harassment of women, referring to it as a ”blind spot”. Creasy has been subjected to what she said has been weeks of targeting by anti-abortion campaigners, which she insists is tantamount to harassment. The Mp went a step further to allege that women walking down hoe street are subjected to intimidation and fear, without describing precisely what form the intimidation takes.
The Eye Of Media.Com has contacted Ms Creasy’s office for a more specific detail on the type of harassment she experiences in Hoe Street. She said “To walk down Hoe Street on a hot summer’s day is to face a minefield of intimidation, harassment and fear.
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“This is so normal, we learn to cope rather than confront it, we change ourselves, not our environment.
“If residents from our black and ethnic minority communities reported such experiences we would rightly be up in arms. We would call it what it is. A hate crime.”Waltham Forest Council approved a motion for a submission to the Law Commission’s consultation in favour of making misogyny a hate crime.
Stella told the meeting: “If what had been happening in Walthamstow to me these past few weeks had been about my skin colour, my sexuality, or my religion, no one here would pause for a second before calling the police. We would stand together to oppose it.”
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A council spokesperson said: “We fundamentally believe in free speech and the right to protest. Both are vital in a healthy democracy. However, residents and visitors to our town centre also have the fundamental right to use the town centre without being confronted with distressing images.
“We have received many complaints from members of the public about the display used by this group. We have responded proportionately having due regard to the right to protest and safety and wellbeing of all our residents and visitors.
“Given that the issues surrounding this and other similar incidents in the borough involving CBR UK may result in legal action, the council is unable to comment further at this stage.”
Scotland Yard has since confirmed it has received complaints about the protests and is working to establish if a crime has taken place.
In a statement on Facebook, CBR UK said: “CBR UK condemns all violence against those who perform, procure or promote abortion and refuses to work or be associated with any group or individual who refuses to condemn such violence.
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