Article content

Two determined anti-abortion protesters who thought they found a loophole in British Columbia’s “bubble zone” law against protesting outside abortion clinics have lost in the province’s highest court.

Cecilia “Sissy” Von Dehn and Donald David Spratt claimed that they were not, in fact, protesting abortion, but rather distributing “neutral information” about the law that bans protesting and “sidewalk interference” within 50 meters of an abortion facility.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Abortion protesters who thought they found loophole in 'bubble zone' law lose B.C. appeal Back to video

Judges have been skeptical, however, both at trial when they were convicted, and now on appeal.

“A certain amount of realism is requisite in assessing these matters,” wrote Mr. Justice John E. Hall of the B.C.’s Court of Appeal in dismissing their joint appeal. “The location is what makes their conduct impermissible.”

On June 19, 2009, the pair of long-time anti-abortion activists went to the Everywoman’s Health Centre in Vancouver, and Commercial Drive and East Broadway with the purpose, a judge found, of testing the law.