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Friday, July 29, 2016 3 Brooklin Town Crier Pro lifers in Brooklin By Richard Bercuson About 50 anti-abortionists from Show the Truth quietly set up graphic placards along sidewalks in Brooklin on July 13. The group, which travels unannounced to various communities, is a collection of citizens protesting abortion. On that particular day, they were at the Baldwin/Winchester intersection, on both sides of the street with members holding large signs depicting startling photographs. Durham Police did come by to check. However, because they were on the sidewalk and merely holding signs, the group was permitted to remain, as is their right. They've demonstrated in places such as Prince Edward Island, Stratford, Kingston, and throughout the Durham Region. According to Show the Truth's founder and organizer, Rosemary Connell, a Lindsay area teacher, putting the images in full view of the public is just one of their strategies. "We show up somewhere and the discussion begins," she said. "People ask questions. We get the full spectrum of opinion. Yes, people are upset at the pictures. We are, too. Our point is all about 'Did you know?' Our aim is to educate." The age range of the protesters went from teens to seniors. Each stood still at a section of the sidewalk with their large placards facing oncoming traffic. It wasn't long before various individuals approached Ms. Connell voicing their disgust with the photos which, she alleges, are all documented. A young man marched up and complained to her that she was scaring children. What ensued was a short debate about abortion and the use of images to make a point. Moments later, two young women, one of them pregnant, approached as well. One angrily told Ms. Connell that she'd scared her two young children in her car to the point of being traumatized by the photos. "You've robbed my kids of their innocence," she said angrily. Ward One Councillor Rhonda Mulcahy was contacted by numerous people about the protest. "The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms allows these people to demonstrate," she says. "It is our right as Canadians. The manner they choose to do this is shocking and for the community it was deeply disturbing. My phone was on fire with complaints from pro-choice and pro-lifers alike." While some of those who voiced objections admitted to being pro life themselves, the overwhelming views were that this approach of publicly displaying such shocking photos "in a family community," as one mentioned, is not the way to do it. The group arrived just before 4 pm and left an hour later, packing their signs into an SUV and heading out. They would not disclose the location of their next protest. New Neighbourhood Watch The 205th Neighbourhood Watch in Durham Region - the Downey-Aster Neighbourhood Watch in Brooklin - has now been officially endorsed. The Watch's Chair, Stephanie Paul, has worked tirelessly to connect her community by gathering names, signatures and contact information. She has met all the requirements for her community to be officially recognized by the Durham Regional Police Service as a Neighbourhood Watch. The boundaries of this new Watch are the homes on Aster Cres, Downey between Carson and Carnwith, and the homes on the north side of Carson from Downey to the west end of Carson. A map outlining the boundaries and proposed Neighbourhood Watch sign locations is on page 8. For more information, contact:Morgen Dobson Regional Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator Durham Regional Police Service, Community Safety Branch Email: mdobson@drps.ca or neighwatch@drps.ca Phone 905-579-1520 or toll free 1-888-579-1520, ext. 5610 Location: Community Safety Branch, Lower Level DRPS Central West Division, 480 Taunton Rd E. (Taunton & Anderson)