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Of University Pro-Life Free Speech and Pro-Abortion Soccer Games

By John-Henry Westen

CALGARY, April 2, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - As reported yesterday, nine pro-life students from the University of Calgary ignored what they understood to be a ridiculous threat of 'trespassing' on their own campus, in order to set up a pro-life display.  The group first held a press conference and then entered the campus with media in toe. LifeSiteNews.com learned today that the students found a soccer game in progress at the spot they planned to set up their display  - a soccer game staged by the campus pro-abortion group.

Undaunted, the pro-life group simply moved to a nearby area to set up their Genocide Awareness Project (GAP) display.  Unsurprisingly that brought a quick end to the soccer game as the pro-abortion students then gathered their own signs to attempt to visually block the pro-life display from passers by.

The 4x8-foot GAP photographic signs graphically depicting abortion and other genocidal activities were erected.  "Different motives, different methods, same results", read one of the signs.

Last month, the pro-life group received correspondence from the university demanding that it display the GAP signs inwards, such that students passing by could not see the imagery.  Yesterday, the students refused to comply with what they saw as an attempt at censorship.

The university did not enforce their "notice to vacate" the premises, but did erect signs saying "WARNING Campus Pro-Life has erected a display on University grounds without the permission or endorsement of the University of Calgary . . .  Students, faculty and staff are cautioned that the images are extremely graphic." The university unwittingly emphasized the GAP message that abortion realistically shown via "graphic" photos is disturbing.

Reporters from CTV the Calgary Herald and other media were on hand to report on the event.

Stephen Jenuth, President of the Alberta Civil Liberties Association told the Herald the he did not see a strong rationale for the university to prevent an open display of the images. "The purpose of the university, I think, is really to encourage debate on what are topical issues," he said.

Kate Appleton, one of the pro-abortion students involved in blocking the pro-life display with placards told the Herald "We're all about free speech and having open dialogue. We're just really offended and upset about their message. It's just not right to compare abortion to things like the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide."

Campus Pro-LIfe president Matthew Wilson and treasurer Leah Hallman had this message for the media: "We are not radicals or extremists, unless trying to promote dialogue on an important, controversial issue can be misconstrued as such.  We are simply students who want to express our beliefs that human life has dignity from the very first moments of fertilization.  Never in our history have we been violent, demeaning, or rude.  Rather, we have always tried to use our convictions as students in a marketplace of ideas to promote the philosophical and scientific position that the unborn are worthy of life."

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