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Pro-abortion agitators violently disrupt Students for Life event at VCU as campus police watch
UPDATE, 3/31/23: A report from local Richmond news outlet ABC8 states that two people were arrested due to the disruption at this event. The outlet says:
VCU Police arrested Natalie Hoskins III, 22, of Richmond and Anthony Marvin, 30, of Richmond at a meeting for the student organization “Students for Life at VCU” at the VCU Student Commons on Wednesday, March 29.
Neither Hoskins nor Marvin are affiliated with VCU, according to the university.
Hoskins was charged with simple assault and Marvin was charged with disorderly conduct.
3/30/23: Pro-abortion students and possible members of Antifa violently disrupted a Students for Life of America (SFLA) event at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, VA, on Wednesday evening, causing chaos in the crowd that injured at least one pro-life student.
Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, and Turning Point USA contributor Isabel Brown, were at VCU as a scheduled stop on the organization’s “Lies Pro-Choicers Believe” tour. According to SFLA, this is not the first time Antifa has protested a speaking event of Hawkins’, but it was the most violent. Hawkins, expecting protestors, had security guards who were present. VCU SFLA students recognized persons whom they believed to be professional Antifa agitators in the room, because those individuals had been present at other pro-life events in the past to instigate trouble.
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.
SFLA executive vice president Tina Whittington was also at the event. She explained, “The protestors had three chants they kept recycling, ‘Fascists Go Home;’ ‘Nazis Go Home;’ and ‘F**k Pro-lifers’. It was so ridiculous. That’s the definition of fascism and Naziism — not allowing for free speech. They wouldn’t allow other ideas to be expressed, and in a way, they won, even though pro-life students stayed to talk after the event.”
Hawkins kept her video camera rolling on Instagram Live as the events unfolded. Masked protestors held signs for Black Lives Matter and Transgender power, and according to SFLA, used the signs to assault people. Pro-life students and SFLA staff members were assaulted while campus police remained in the hallway, refusing to stop the chaos.
Autumn Walser, president of SFLA at VCU, and a fellow student were injured. In addition, Kevin Feliciano, who was recording the event for SFLA, was struck with signs as protestors attempted to prevent him from recording their behavior. Complaints have been filed and Hawkins said SFLA will ensure Walser has security present with her for as long as she needs.
As some students in attendance attempted to ask questions of Hawkins, the protestors screamed and changed too loudly for a conversation to be had. One pro-choice student thanked Hawkins for coming to speak and said she was disappointed she was unable to ask Hawkins any questions.
As campus police attempted to get Hawkins and the pro-lifers to leave, rather than the protestors, Hawkins told them, “You would have to arrest me. I’m not leaving.”
At one point, a pro-life student appeared to be assaulted by a group that crowded around and security personnel and City police stepped in to assist as the crowd chanted, “I smell bacon!” in a crude reference that refers to police officers as “pigs.” However, the police detained SFLA team members and pro-life students, allowing the violent and unruly protestors to walk free after destroying SFLA property and signs.
“The free speech rights of pro-life Americans and especially pro-life students are at stake,” said Hawkins after the event. “We can’t stop meeting for fear of opposition.”
SFLA is demanding that VCU invite Hawkins and Brown back to campus to carry out their planned presentation while ensuring their safety and free speech rights are protected.
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