University of Wisconsin La Crosse Sees Abortion Backers Vandalize Pro-Life Display
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 18, 2010
LaCrosse, WI (LifeNews.com) — Abortion advocates at La Crosse University in Wisconsin vandalized a pro-life student the pro-life campus group erected. The organization put up 1,100 crosses to memorialize the unborn children who are killed in abortions and they found the crosses in piles Monday morning along with pro-abortion signs posted.
The UW-LaCrosse student newspaper indicate the vandals "tore from the ground and tossed into piles" the crosses, which has been arranged to appear similar to the Arlington National Cemetery near Washington.
Alyssa Gebel, president of the UW-L Pro-Life Students of La Crosse, which has erected the cross display annually, said members of her group founds the crosses destroyed and pro-abortion signs posted on a fence nearby.
"This is very disappointing to see the efforts of so many students disrespected. To have this happen on a campus where free speech is usually embraced is sad," Gebel said.
She told The Racquet the pro-life group plans to put the cross display back up but will not remove the pro-abortion signs and Gebel added she doesn’t think the perpetrators will be caught.
"The vandals are free to put out signs, but not to destroy the work of other students," Gebel said. The chances of finding whoever did it are slim to none."
She told the newspaper the pro-life student group registered a complaint with the university, filed a report with campus police, and issued a formal hate incident report with the Office of Campus Climate
Assistant Dean of Students John Palmer promised the university would "take action and will hold responsible" those who engaged in the vandalism.
"We think this behavior is completely inappropriate," he told the student newspaper. "Vandalism is not an appropriate way to deal with political discourse."
Kristan Hawkins, Executive Director of Students for Life of America, responded to the incident in comments to LifeNews.com.
“What happened on La Crosse University’s campus is inexcusable. Vandalizing the Cemetery of the Innocence not only shows a lack of respect for property, but also for the students of the University," she said. "It is a sad day when there can no longer be an open academic discussion on a university campus, but rather vandalism and hate.”
"Students for Life of America stands with the Pro-Life Students of La Crosse today and thanks the Administration for their swift response with an investigation. SFLA hopes the Administration will bring the vandals to justice," she added.
The vandalism of the cross display follows vandalism of cross displays at Missouri State University, Louisiana State University, and at Northern Kentucky University.
Related web sites:
Pro-Life Students of LaCrosse
Students for Life of America – https://www.studentsforlife.org
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