I would like to include a warning before my article. There will be mentions of Pro-Life and Pro-Choice speech. If there is there is the possibility of you as a reader being triggered over the subject of abortion I urge you to think of your mental health first and not read on. Also, I promise to try remaining to the base facts of what happened.

On Wednesday, I was walking to class and noticed the presence of huge posters that contained blood and pictures of fetuses. The picture claimed to be of a 10-week-old fetus, but on further inspection, the picture seemed to be of a much later fetus that was near to term. I will provide a comparison image of a 10-week-old fetus from a school sanctioned pamphlet, however, I was unable to get a solid picture of the fetus they used on their sign so I will use what was provided in the pamphlet they handed out.

Seen here: 10-week fetus according to pro-life pamphlet (Unlock The Truth Pamphlet)

Seen here: diagram of both an eight-week and 12-week fetus from a pregnancy pamphlet handed out on school grounds (ETR Associates)

The imagery used on these signs led to some students being triggered. They saw the grotesque images and it put them into emotional distress. The pro-life organization, called Unlock the Truth, was on campus on both Wednesday and Thursday from about 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days. This organization handed out several flyers and was constantly approaching students. They approached everyone and anyone and some students even reported feeling harassed.

The most amazing part of this whole event is the student response to the organization. Students gathered on the main quad about 10 o’clock on Wednesday to express their points of view as well. The student gathering included several signs and about twenty students if not more expressing their views. They handed out some pamphlets of their own about STD awareness and resources such as counseling at the PGCC on campus. They even handed out condoms. Several of the students engaged in conversations with the pro-life organization, however, people did get heated over certain issues. Debates took place and people stood their ground on what they believe in.

Although there were times in which the debates got heated, everything happened in a civil manner. There was no violence whatsoever, the worst part of this whole situation was that students became triggered on their own campus and due to that they faced mental distress. The debates became heated when people over the issue of if the fetus is human or at which point does it become human. Another heated point was what should happen in the case of rape and or incest.

For the pro-life group, they saw humanization when the sperm and egg attached, and thought abortion would be killing an innocent human. And with the point of rape they referred back to that logic of becoming human starts at conception in their views. One student mentioned that they dodged the question of what to do in the case of incest, but in the case of rape they stated that the victim should have to at least carry the fetus to term. They even compared an abortion to capital punishment. Their logic is that if the rapist is not dying from the crime then why should the fetus be disposed of.

Students stepping up: they volunteered to help any uncomfortable students walk through the area with protesters, taking away the fear of being harassed.

This group consisted of old men and on the second day, a woman from a pro-life organization in Monterey joined in. Several of the complaints students had for the group is that they should not be talking about issues such as this due to their absence of an ability to carry a baby. Why should their opinions limit what other people can and cannot do with their body? Also, in the case of the woman, she was all about providing resources, but when questioned on other issues such as rape she stated like the others that the victim should keep the fetus. When students tried to ask her if she had been in a situation such as that she refused to answer by saying it had no relation to the point. In other words, these people have formulated opinions on what others should do with their body even when not being in a similar situation. My problem is that I cannot see why their opinions should affect someone’s choice of what they can do with their own body.

The side containing students had some different opinions. They were all for women being able to have control over their own bodies. My views coincided with theirs and I did join in with the protest for a while. My views are simple: my body is my own. If I happen to become injured, how I choose to heal my injury is my choice. It is not right for the opinion of another to decide what happens to me.

On the side of the students, there were several posters and banners expressing their views. My personal favorite was one with a coat hanger symbolizing how far we have come in science. Before the legalization of abortion, women would often use coat hangers to abort the fetus and thus suffer giant medical consequences. I am glad to be in a society where if someone is in need of a medical operation such as abortion, at least it can be done in a safe and sterile environment.

In conclusion to this whole event: several views were discussed, some people argued, others were triggered, and people on both sides stood up for their beliefs. The pro-life group had extremely differing points of view to a majority of the student population, but being a public ground they did have the right to express their opinion. The students were ecstatic when they left, we were clapping and cheering at this group departing and (hopefully) leaving for a long time.

Students cheering at the exit of the pro-life group