Oxford University condemns protestors who destroyed pro-life society stall at Freshers' Fair and left members 'frightened and nervous'

  • Anti-abortion group claims its stall was ruined at Oxford University Freshers' Fair
  • Members say some of the students binned their leaflets and frightened them
  • Oxford University says it condemns the protest and supports freedom of speech
  • Christian groups have called for better support of pro-life societies on campus

Oxford University has condemned protestors who destroyed a pro-life society's stall at a Freshers' Fair.

Students at the university tore down posters advertising the Oxford Students for Life society and binned pamphlets and booklets last week.

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Christian groups have called for more support and protection on campus for pro-life societies, alleging the actions of 'cancel culture activists' was 'disturbing'. 

Oxford Students for Life is a society which advocates against abortion. They have condemned the protest as 'intimidation tactics'.

Oxford Students for Life is a society which advocates against abortion
Oxford Students for Life president Anna Fleischer says her members were intimidated at Freshers' Fair

The President of the pro-life society, Anna Fleischer, said a young woman working on the stall was left feeling 'scared, frightened and nervous,' following the incident.  

'One of the people on the stall is a woman with ADHD and autism and she found it really distressing,' Miss Fleischer said.

'She told me she felt so scared and frightened and nervous that she was even nervous walking home because she was so intimidated.'

Anna, a third year Philosophy and Theology student from London, said: 'For the majority of the Freshers' Fair, most people who engaged with us were very friendly and respectful.

'On the second day, around noon, a small group of students tried to block the stall, I think it was about four of them and they tried to block people from seeing the stall.

'After that they left and came back with a black wheelie bin and started putting material in the bin.'

The pro-life society tweeted about their bad experience after the Fresher's Fair

Miss Fleischer, 20, said that other students grabbed pamphlets and booklets about abortion and euthanasia that her group had displayed and threw them in the bin.

The pro-life students then tried to put their material in a safe place before the protesters allegedly came behind the stall and tore down posters. 

Miss Fleischer claims youngsters in the society were subjected to online abuse after the incident, with trolls insulting their appearance, sending rude messages and even death threats.

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The University has said it supports a right to freedom of expression and therefore condemns the protestors' actions.

However, the Students' Union insisted that it was 'unequivocally pro-choice and supports all people's right to make their own decisions regarding their bodies.'

An Oxford University spokesman said: 'The University supports the right of all our students and student groups to express views of all persuasions within the law.

'We therefore condemn last week's protest against the Oxford Students for Life stall at the Freshers' Fair, which was an attempt to deny the right of expression to others.

'We have a robust freedom of speech policy which states 'Within the bounds set by law, all voices or views which any member of our community considers relevant should be given the chance of a hearing.'

President of the pro-life society, Anna Fleischer (pictured), said a young woman working on the stall was left feeling 'scared, frightened and nervous'

'We require all events held on University premises to abide by this policy.'

News of the incident comes after protesters lobbied to disband another pro-life group at Exeter University.

A petition has been set up opposing the existence of Exeter Students for Life amid calls to cut off funding for the group by the Exeter Students Guild.

Members of the group say they have also been subject to online trolls and death threats.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre at Christian Concern, said: 'A pro-life society has just as much right to enjoy its freedom of association as any other society at a university. The treatment the Oxford University pro-life group has received at the hands of cancel culture activists is very disturbing.

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The anti-abortion group also shared their thoughts about the protest on Instagram

'We welcome the defence authorities at Oxford and Exeter University have given to freedom of speech, but call on universities across the country to do more to protect pro-life societies on campus.

'The Christian Legal Centre is ready to stand with and defend every member of every one of the pro-life campus societies. Their message is one of life and hope and it should never be silenced in a free society.'

A spokesman for Oxford's Students' Union said: 'We believe that no one should have to see their fundamental rights being up for debate, and for that, we apologise.

'We understand, and to some extent anticipated, the emotive responses and frustrations towards the presence of an anti-abortion stall at the Freshers' Fair. The stalls represent only their own views and not necessarily those of the SU.'

They added they had to adhere to the University Freedom of Speech regulations and had no control over which student societies were registered with the university.

The spokesman went on: 'However, Oxford SU has to stand with and for its students. As an organisation, we want to learn from this to ensure that this policy does not overshadow our commitment to student mandates and welfare. ' 

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