A Scottish Christian woman and a prominent Canadian advocate against child gender transitions, have been arrested in Brussels for wearing two large signs.
They were not profane, abusive or filled with hate, but they still upset authorities in the city that’s supposed to be the heart of freedom across the European Union (EU).
Lois McLatchie Miller’s sign read: “Children are never born in the wrong body.”
Chris Elston who’s also known as ‘Billboard Chris’ wore a sign saying: “Children cannot consent to puberty blockers.”
“TOTAL MADNESS THAT’S EMBLEMATIC OF A FREE SPEECH CRISIS IN EUROPE”
A crowd had formed around the pair, but instead of addressing the aggression of some of them, Brussels police arrested the two peaceful protestors.
“Four police vans and about 14 police showed up. I guess they thought it was easier to take care of us than the angry mob,” Ms. McLatchie Miller posted.
“We were taken to a police station after refusing to remove our signs and walk away and told we were being charged with what translates as causing a disturbance of the peace.”
“We were then handcuffed and all of our possessions were taken and logged.”
“I had to strip down to my underwear for a search, and we were put into jail cells.”
CHILD GENDER PROTECTION ADVOCATES CALL THEIR ARRESTS “TOTAL MADNESS”
The pair who were in the EU capital to discuss the dangers of puberty blockers with members of the European Parliament, were released from custody several hours later with no charges filed.
Police refused to return their signs, saying they would be destroyed.
They called their arrests “total madness” — which was emblematic of a “free speech crisis” in Europe.
“IT REALLY DOES RAISE AN ALARM BELL OVER FREE SPEECH”
Addressing their “peaceful” message affirming biological reality, Ms. McLatchie Miller told Fox News: “It’s an opinion that’s shared by many people across Europe, and yet the authorities came and shut down that conversation in the streets of this capital city, this heart of the European Union.”
“If free speech is not accessible here in Europe’s alleged home of democracy, then it’s not accessible anywhere and it really does raise an alarm bell.”
The senior legal communications officer with ADF International added that she had not expected such “hostility” in Brussels.
“But hopefully it exposes some things that need to be exposed about the need to protect freedom of expression in Europe,” she continued.
“IT’S DEEPLY DISTURBING TO SEE AUTHORITARIANISM IN THE HEART OF EUROPE”
Paul Coleman, ADF executive director, said the organisation was considering legal action in the wake of their arrests.
“The Belgian authorities not only failed to uphold the fundamental right to speak freely, they turned the power of the state against those who were peacefully exercising their rights at the behest of a mob,” he said.
“This is the type of authoritarianism we challenge in other parts of the world, and it’s deeply disturbing to see it here in the very heart of Europe.“
“While we are grateful our colleague has been safely released, we are deeply concerned by her treatment at the hands of the police in Brussels.”
We will not stand by while peaceful citizens are criminalised for speaking out on vital issues, especially when it’s the safety and well-being of children at stake.”
NOT THE FIRST TIME BRUSSELS HAS THREATENED FREE SPEECH
A year ago a Brussels mayor attempted to shut down the National Conservatism Conference, citing ideological disagreement with the speakers.
ADF International intervened then with emergency legal action that forced the restoration of the event.
As a legal organisation, ADF International is now assessing all legal options to uphold free speech rights in Belgium.
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