Abortion, Protest, Poland, Krakow. Thousands protest against proposed stricter abortion law in Poland #CzarnyProtest (Black Protest) they chanted “Chcę mieć wybór” (“I want choice”) as they marched dressed all in black from Rynek Dębnicki to the Main Square and held up homemade signs and coat hangers, which have become a symbol of the movement.
Many polish women left their jobs and some businesses even closed to demonstrate the importance of women to Polish society. Women who have abortions could be jailed for up to five years under a law backed by Polish MPs which would almost completely ban terminations even in cases of rape or incest. Poland’s parliament is dominated by the governing Law and Justice party (PIS) with strong ties with the Catholic Church. Practitioners of illegal abortions could also face five-year sentences. The current laws, dating back to 1993, only permit the process if the mother is in danger, the foetus deformed or the pregnancy is the result of a crime.