Content warning: The following story includes graphic descriptions of abortion.
Pro-life organization Created Equal held an anti-abortion protest on MU’s campus on Wednesday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Arts and Science Mall. The group travels across the country protesting and discussing abortion through the use of graphic photo exhibitions. The protestors displayed posters depicting aborted fetuses and spoke with students about abortion statistics. Students’ reactions to the display ranged from disgust to recognition of the group’s free speech rights.
Sophomore Hayley Cooley felt the images may trigger those who have prior experiences with abortions.
“They should absolutely not be here,” Cooley said. “Their images are very uncalled for. A lot of women are experiencing a lot of different circumstances. You don’t know what someone has experienced, so setting up these images is setting up women to just have emotions that they should not be experiencing on their way to math class.”
In a press release, Created Equal President Mark Harrington said the group’s aim for these images is to spark conversation, but some students expressed the images had the opposite effect. Sophomore Naijah Tinsley explained the photos made her want to keep walking, rather than stopping to speak with members about their cause.
“If anything, when I walk past people showing those explicit pictures, I don’t really wanna hear your side, I just kind of want you to go,” Tinsley said.
While some students said they were disturbed by the images, several expressed their belief that though the photos were gruesome, the Created Equal members had a right to hold their protest.
“I don’t mind a protest,” first year law student Clare Hensley said. “Protesting is important. I personally am pro-choice, so when I see anti-abortion stuff, it’s just not my belief, but I’m not out here to make a fight or anything. People have a right to protest.”
Freshman Jesse Hunt also believes in the right to protest.
“This is America,” Hunt said. “We’re a free country. If you wanna put your voice out there, you should be able to do it, as long as it’s not a harmful voice.”
As MU is a public university, it is legally bound to uphold First Amendment rights — specifically, the right to free speech and the right to protest on its campus. This means no matter the controversial cause or topic in question, organizations unaffiliated with the university have the right to demonstrate on campus, as long as their presence does not threaten the safety or overall well-being of the students.
MU maintains fairly open-minded free speech policies. According to the Free Expression at MU webpage, MU is fully committed to “free and open inquiry in all matters.” MU will only impede expression in extreme cases, such as defamation, violation of the law, invasion of privacy or confidentiality, threats, harassment or violation of university guidelines.
MU acknowledges its understanding that freedom of expression will stir controversy in many cases, and it is not the place of the university to protect students from viewpoints or ideas they find “unwelcome, disagreeable or even deeply offensive,”as is stated on the MU free speech policy website. As long as mutual respect is maintained and no individual’s safety is compromised, it is not within the authority of MU to interfere with conflicts of beliefs.
“The ideas of different members of the University community will often and quite naturally conflict,” MU’s policy says, “… But concerns about civility and mutual respect can never be used as a justification for closing off the discussion of ideas, however offensive or disagreeable those ideas may be to some members of our community.”
Some students felt Created Equal’s display threatened their emotional and mental well-being, and that the group likely brought out signs just to generate controversy.
“They’re doing it for the shock factor,” Cooley said. “They’re doing it to make people upset. They want a rise out of people, and that’s what they’re getting, but that’s not efficient for what they say they’re coming here for. That’s not going to make a positive change and stop or reduce abortion.”
Sophomore Carter Kussman said he spoke to the protestors to challenge their views and give them a taste of their own medicine. Kussman spoke with the protestors, questioning their tactics and challenging their views.
“With the graphic images, they’re trying to get a reaction, and they’re getting a reaction,” Kussman said. “I came out here to make them uncomfortable because [the protest] makes us feel uncomfortable. It makes the people with uteruses on campus feel uncomfortable because it’s a restriction on their rights. You absolutely have a right to free speech, but so do I. And I will be using it to my full ability.”
For those students who felt disturbed by the protest and displayed images, MU provides a variety of resources. Students can contact the MU Counseling Center for in-person, virtual or phone counseling, consultation services and community support. Students can also contact the Women’s Center via email at muwomenscenter@missouri.edu or via phone at 573-882-6621 to voice their concerns and find additional personalized resources and support.
Women’s Center contact information
email: muwomenscenter@missouri.edu
Phone number: 573-882-6621
Edited by Emmet Jamieson | ejamieson@themaneater.com