March 28, 2024

Controversial pro-life protest on campus

Graphic images lined the sidewalks of Pleasant Ridge and stood just outside the gate on Main Street as pro-life organization Created Equal protested abortion Tuesday afternoon.

Some protesters stood holding signs with images of aborted fetuses, while others handed out pamphlets to students as they passed. Many students simply avoided the protesters by walking around them, but several more stood with them, discussing with the protesters their position on the subject.

Ian, a member of the organization, said that their goal was to create a dialogue with students about the subject and to show the victims themselves.

When asked about those who disagree with their message, Sarah, the communications coordinator, said, “Whether [students] agree or not, we want to show images and show the whole picture and get people to think deeper.”

According to a press release from the organization, the protesters’ display was meant to make the point that “abortion is ageism,” as their pamphlets stated.

Mark Harrington, the national director of Created Equal, said, “It is disturbing to see abortion victims, but it is far more disturbing that many ignore the oppression of these young humans.”

While no problems of violence were reported between the protesters and students, many students had strong opinions about their presence.

“[The protest] makes me a little sick, honestly,” Hannah Pine, a first-year, said. “The fact that they’re being so vulgar about it … there are better ways to convince people.”

Another Capital student who declined to be named said that the protest was a “peaceful way of bringing about the issue without it feeling forced” and that it was “a good exercise of freedom of speech.”

Yet another student could be heard during a conversation with one of the protesters saying, “Until you can carry a child for nine months I don’t think you should tell me what to do with my body.”

The organization, which is made up of college-aged students, said they visit mostly public colleges, where they legally have access and are able to protest anywhere they want on campus. When visiting a private college, like Capital, they had to keep their signs on public sidewalks and streets.

The organization started setup for the protest at around 10 a.m. and left around 2 p.m.

Pro-life signs in front of the gate
Protesters display signs showing aborted fetuses in front of Capital’s gateway. Photos by Heather Barr.

Author

  • Heather Barr

    Heather Barr is the current Editor-In-Chief of The Chimes and a senior at Capital University, studying Journalism and Professional Writing. hbarr@capital.edu

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