Pro choice students and anti-abortionists displayed their clashing views at Okanagan College91裸聊视频檚 Kelowna campus Tuesday afternoon.
A group of anti-abortionists that have named themselves 91裸聊视频淓xpose the Reality91裸聊视频� chose the location this week to display large, graphic images of aborted fetuses.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e here today to show the truth of abortion to a demographic we believe needs to see the truth. These students are the demographic most likely to choose abortion, and they are our future policy-makers, politicians, lawyers and social architects,91裸聊视频� claimed co-organizer and Kelowna Right to Life Society executive director Marlon Bartram.
91裸聊视频淲e believe that society greatly believes abortion is just a benign procedure that removes a clump of tissue or a mass of cells and they don91裸聊视频檛 believe there is a victim involved. We91裸聊视频檙e here to show that there is a victim involved, a baby.91裸聊视频�
RELATED: Pro-life rally targets Kelowna students
While a handful of pro-life demonstrators were on campus with graphic signs, far more students showed up to block their messaging. Messaging some called harmful.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e seen people get upset at this grossly misinformed signs and this is a place of higher education, not harassment,91裸聊视频� said Charlotte Culy, while dressed as a vagina. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e seen people running away crying, I91裸聊视频檓 seeing them harass people.91裸聊视频�
She claims the pro-life group forced their messaging on students that she had previously seen asking the demonstrators to leave them alone.
91裸聊视频淭hey don91裸聊视频檛 care for the student91裸聊视频檚 feelings, it91裸聊视频檚 too much,91裸聊视频� added Culy. 91裸聊视频淭hey shouldn91裸聊视频檛 be allowed to come on (campus) with these signs. They can come on and try to engage people, but they are actively trying to upset people and that is wrong.91裸聊视频�
She was supported by student Evan Kelly who felt it was important to stand with the women on campus.
91裸聊视频淚 believe it should be every woman91裸聊视频檚 choice and freedom to make their decision as they chose too,91裸聊视频� said Kelly.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think this organization should be on the campus of a learning facility where people come to be safe.91裸聊视频�
Sam Penner had just jumped back into the vagina costume Culy had been wearing previously when she spoke to the Capital News.
91裸聊视频淭hese are our own choices, our own bodies, so we should be able to do what we want with it,91裸聊视频� said Penner.
Students used large fabric posters to block the imagery of the anti-abortionists, a decision Penner explains was to protect fellow students.
In that regard, Bartram said their right to share their message on campus trumps student91裸聊视频檚 concerns the imaging could trigger other students who may have been impacted by things like past abortions, miscarriage and fertility issues.
91裸聊视频淲e have a right to express ourselves on campus,91裸聊视频� said Bartram. 91裸聊视频淎ll these students are warned ahead of time. So, if they want too, they can avoid this area completely. Our right to express ourselves is paramount to someone else91裸聊视频檚 right not to be offended.91裸聊视频�
The voice of opposition did show up for Bartram and his fellow anti-abortionists though, en masse.
Those who took part in the large group wore costumes depicting sexual organs and held posters that said things like 91裸聊视频淢ind your own damn uterus91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淚f you cut off my reproductive rights can I cut off yours?91裸聊视频�
Abortion in Canada is legal at all stages of pregnancy and is governed by the Canada Health Act.
Regulations and accessibility vary between provinces. Prior to 1969, all abortion was illegal in Canada.
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