Kristen Hawkins, the president of Students for Life of America, had been invited to speak at Virginia Commonwealth University as part of a book tour when pro-abortion activists disrupted the event.
Pro-abortion protestors invaded the venue and were heard shouting, “Get out Nazi fascists” and “F*** pro-lifers”.
Private security and local police were forced to intervene when punches were thrown by pro-abortion activists. The attack was caught on camera and has since been published online.
Autumn Higashi, the chapter president of Students for Life, was injured. Hawkins and her co-speaker, Isabel Brown, were removed from the room.
Brown later reported that they were “escorted into a locked room for about two hours for our own ‘safety’ while violent protesters walked free… I never expected Richmond, Virginia, to be the epicenter hub of all things insanity and violent protesting until tonight.”
Members of Antifa, a violent group of far-left militants, were said to have been among the pro-abortion assault. At least two people were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and assault.
Hawkins later tweeted: “We came to @VCU, a public university to speak about abortion and we were assaulted… VCU you should be ashamed of yourselves for allowing this and shutting down any freedom of thought or speech at your university.”
Students for Life has requested that the university allow Hawkins and Brown to return to speak on campus. It is so far unknown whether they will be allowed back.
Increasingly hostile environment for pro-lifers
Campuses in the US have become increasingly hostile spaces for pro-lifers. SPUC has reported on multiple incidents of abuse and violence directed at young pro-lifers in recent years.
Late last year, “Jane’s Revenge”, the pro-abortion militant group, reported a pro-life Catholic venue in Nebraska.
Pro-life students were also subjected to racist abuse St. Paul, Minnesota, last year. And in Texas, a student pro-life conference was attacked with smoke bombs.
Numerous other incidents have also taken place across the US, but also in the UK, where pro-life student groups have been persecuted.
The pro-life Stirling Catholic Society was recently suspended by the Stirling University Students’ Union. Thanks in part to backing by SPUC, the Society was later reinstated after the Union was reminded of its legal obligation to protect free speech.
“Wholly unacceptable”
SPUC’s Michael Robinson, Executive Director (Public Affairs and Legal Services), said: “The use of violence by pro-abortion activists to intimidate pro-lifers, especially students, is wholly unacceptable. Campuses and local authorities have a duty of care to students, as well as free speech, which must be protected.
“In the UK and elsewhere, pro-lifers have a right to be heard and be free from violent attacks and persecution. Inaction on the part of universities and governments only serves to enable the thuggish behaviour we saw in Virginia.
“Abortion is violence. While it should not surprise us that some people will turn to violence to defend the similarly violent ethic of abortion, it must be made clear that all forms of political violence are not acceptable in a civilised society.”
