For 21-year-old John Alexander, being against abortion came before finding faith.
As a teenager at school in Buckinghamshire, he was confused as to why most of his peers supported access to abortion. On social media he argued vocally against it.
Then, shortly after the pandemic, he became more interested in Christianity. He was raised in the Church of England (CofE), but thought the denomination was dry and involved people sitting in pews not doing much. He was inspired by the young pastor at a Pentecostal Church which discussed social issues like abortion more than CofE churches, he says. He also watched social media videos of street preachers.
At university, he joined the pro-life society and later he became a fan of the American right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk. In the UK, people want to be polite, so they don't tackle abortion in the same way because they are scared to talk about it, he says. For those who are frustrated by the culture here, they look at the States and how vocal people are, and [they] are inspired.
Last month, John attended the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children's Youth Conference - where attendance has grown steadily every year since it was created, organisers say.
Analysts, charity leaders, and young anti-abortion activists have observed a rise in the number of British young people embracing anti-abortion activism. There’s no single, clear cause; however, factors include pushback against the Crime and Policing Bill which is working through Parliament, proposals for decriminalizing abortion, and a notable influence from U.S. anti-abortion groups.
As U.S. anti-abortion groups and figures gain prominence in the UK, questions arise about the sustainability of Britain’s pro-choice consensus amidst increasing activism and funding from across the Atlantic. With changing political landscapes and renewed energies, the dialogue on abortion rights remains contentious and evolving.
As a teenager at school in Buckinghamshire, he was confused as to why most of his peers supported access to abortion. On social media he argued vocally against it.
Then, shortly after the pandemic, he became more interested in Christianity. He was raised in the Church of England (CofE), but thought the denomination was dry and involved people sitting in pews not doing much. He was inspired by the young pastor at a Pentecostal Church which discussed social issues like abortion more than CofE churches, he says. He also watched social media videos of street preachers.
At university, he joined the pro-life society and later he became a fan of the American right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk. In the UK, people want to be polite, so they don't tackle abortion in the same way because they are scared to talk about it, he says. For those who are frustrated by the culture here, they look at the States and how vocal people are, and [they] are inspired.
Last month, John attended the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children's Youth Conference - where attendance has grown steadily every year since it was created, organisers say.
Analysts, charity leaders, and young anti-abortion activists have observed a rise in the number of British young people embracing anti-abortion activism. There’s no single, clear cause; however, factors include pushback against the Crime and Policing Bill which is working through Parliament, proposals for decriminalizing abortion, and a notable influence from U.S. anti-abortion groups.
As U.S. anti-abortion groups and figures gain prominence in the UK, questions arise about the sustainability of Britain’s pro-choice consensus amidst increasing activism and funding from across the Atlantic. With changing political landscapes and renewed energies, the dialogue on abortion rights remains contentious and evolving.
