Toronto police arrest Linda Gibbons — again

TORONTO - Pro-life activist Linda Gibbons, just two days removed from appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada, was arrested again Dec. 16 outside a Toronto abortion clinic.

Gibbons began her protest around 9 a.m. at the Morgentaler Clinic near Bayview and Eglinton Avenues. Toronto Police arrested her about two hours later.

Gibbons has been arrested multiple times for violating a temporary injunction issued in 1994 that prevents her from protesting within 150 metres of Toronto abortion clinics. Since then, she has served more than nine years in prison for her protests, with judges refusing to grant her bail unless she promises not to continue her protests. She refuses to abide by these conditions.

On Dec. 14, Gibbons had been before the Supreme Court trying to quash the injunction that has led to some 20 arrests over the years and her nine years of incarceration. Her lawyers argued before the court that criminal courts should not be used to enforce an injunction made by a civil court.

Before her latest arrest, Gibbons had been speaking to women who entered the clinic and passersby. She stood holding a sign that read: "Why mom? When I have so much love to give."

While some took her pamphlets, many spoke angrily to her, including a representative from the Morgentaler Clinic.