Photo | Hana Nikcevic
On September 12th, a display by University of Toronto Students for Life on the outskirts of the UTSU’s Street Fest was met with an ad hoc gathering of counter-protesters.
After being purportedly blocked from entering the boundaries of the Street Fest, the assembly of pro-life activists chose to set up a display on the Southeast corner of Harbord and St. George, with a large banner featuring a graphic image of an aborted fetus.
The display was met by impromptu groups of counter-protesters who brought with them a large banner reading “U of T Feminist Strong,” which they held up to cover much of the anti-abortion images. Alisha Krishna, one of the students involved in the counter-demonstration, provided information that this banner was repurposed from an action last fall, held in solidarity with Sociology and Women and Gender Studies students following threats made against them.
Ellie Ade Kur, founder of UofT’s chapter of Silence is Violence, could be heard through a megaphone: “There is no shame in having an abortion, but there is shame in what these people are out here doing.” She continued, “There is no place for this on our campus.”
A barrier was created around the counter-demonstration by members of the police force.
Krishna says that “there was a shared feeling that we were doing more than advocating for basic, necessary and life-saving medical rights. We were all motivated by intense compassion for those who are regularly shamed, traumatized and humiliated for something so incredibly private and already emotionally charged.
“Issues raised by counter-demo protesters not only included our right as students to be safe from traumatizing images, but also calls to end the financial relationship between ULife, St Michael’s College and these anti-abortion activists,” says Krishna.
Krishna directs any students interested in “collective mobilizing around reproductive rights” to the “Silence is Violence – University of Toronto” Facebook page.
STATEMENT FROM ALISHA KRISHNA, COUNTER-PROTESTER:
“Anti-choice advocates attempted to protest within the borders of U of T’s street fest. They were blocked from entering the fair, but they stationed themselves just outside, at the corner of St. George and Harbord. Some students, disturbed by the graphic images on display, stated an impromptu counter-demo. The banner we used – saying “U of T Feminist Strong” – was repurposed from another action in solidarity with students from Sociology and Women and Gender Studies, who faced threats against them. Police would go on to create a barrier around the counter-demo, as a response to threats from agitated anti-choice activists.
Issues raised by counter-demo protestors not only included our right as students to be safe from traumatizing images, but also calls to end the financial relationship between ULife, St Michaels’ College and these anti-abortion activists. Near the end of the action, speeches were centered around a “your body, your choice” maxim, and the life-saving quality of good, accessible reproductive health care.
All of the students at the counter-demo were brought together on an ad hoc basis. This action was not planned, but there was a shared feeling that we were doing more than advocating for basic, necessary and life-saving medical rights. We were all motivated by intense compassion for those who are regularly shamed, traumatized and humiliated for something so incredibly private and already emotionally charged. The students who blocked signs and held banners were there to make our campus a safer space, where one can walk to class without being emotionally assaulted.
These billboards have been a common sight around campus and the surrounding area and the growing number of students at today’s counter-demo showed that there is real interest for a collective mobilizing around reproductive rights. Interested students can follow the “Silence is Violence – University of Toronto” Facebook page.”
