This is hardly news anymore, as campus pro-life activists routinely are assaulted and have their signs stolen or damaged. The College Fix reports on an altercation at the University of California, Santa Barbara:
A department of feminist studies professor has been accused of going berserk after coming across a campus prolife demonstration that used extremely graphic displays, leading a small mob of students to chant “tear down the sign” before grabbing one of the signs, storming off with it, then allegedly engaging in an altercation with a 16-year-old prolife protestor who had followed the educator to retrieve it.
Much of the scuffle was recorded on a smartphone by the 16-year-old, Thrin Short. The yet-to-be-released video is now in the custody of Santa Barbara law enforcement officials, who are investigating the March 4 incident.
The professor at the heart of the controversy is Mireille Miller-Young, an associate professor whose area of emphasis is black cultural studies, pornography and sex work, according to her faculty webpage. She could not be reached for comment Tuesday by The College Fix.
The confrontation took place at the coastal, public university’s “free speech” area, a heavily traversed part of the quad.
Short was allegedly assaulted by Miller-Young, resulting in scratches on her arm.
The school paper, the Daily Nexus, ran a long letter-to-the-editor, complaining about the incident. Not the violence against the pro-life activist, but the presence of pro-life activists on campus:
It’s not the position I have a problem with, but rather the approach that is very insensitive, non-inclusive, violent and dangerous. These groups have failed to give students the right to choose to partake in such events, stripping individuals from their choice to practice self-care in topics as deep as abortion.
I am in no way representing any group I am affiliated with in regards to my opinion on this matter; however, as a student, I feel personally affected by the insensitivity shown towards the countless people who are affected by abortion. I am overwhelmed by these events and images, and I feel empathy for the students I witnessed crying after these protests. My intention is not to bash these groups, as the groups themselves and their position on abortion are of no pressing issue to me; however, their approach has been very triggering and problematic, especially in times as stressful as finals.
These groups are threatening the well-being of students, yet nothing is being done. We should not feel unsafe on our own campus. These acts of shaming and violence are beyond unacceptable, and in no case have these groups warned the student body before showing such images on campus. These groups need to see that although they are successful in initiating a response, it is not always about the damage you know you’re doing, but the damage you unknowingly do.
Notice how thoroughly indoctrinated the second-year feminist studies and sociology student is in describing images of violence as violence and using jargon such as “triggering” and “self-care.”
The images and comparisons used by these pro-life activists are not for everyone, but the reaction — the violence, intimidation, or calls for censorship — is not the response we should see on a university campus. Unfortunately, it the response that is all too common on campus when pro-life activists dare to bring attention to the plight of the unborn. For example, last year a man dressed as a vagina shut down a pro-life lecture by a Member of Parliament at the University of Waterloo.
