The pro-abortion feminist studies professor at University of California Santa Barbara who attacked a young pro-life activist, stole and destroyed her sign, and encouraged a group of students to violence, inciting an angry mob, has plead no contest to criminal charges.
The incident, which took place on March 4, saw two pro-life students Thrin and Joan Short, lead the peaceful pro-life outreach event with 11 friends, most of whom were students from Thomas Aquinas College.
They used signs displaying images of abortion victims to begin conversations with students before a confrontation by Professor of Feminist Studies, Mireille Miller-Young turned violent.
The angry professor interrupted the students’ calm interaction with the activists by grabbing a pro-life sign out of the hands of one of them, carrying the sign off through the campus flanked by her students, and then assaulting Thrin Short while trying to hide from police, who were on their way, the group said. Police officers later found the remains of the sign, which had been destroyed. UC Santa Barbara police are completing their report to be submitted for prosecution.
The professor’s tired left scratches on the arms of one pro-lifer.
Now, Miller-Young has entered a plea of nolo contendere (no contest) to the criminal charges against her, which include grand theft, vandalism, and battery. The plea means that she will be convicted on the three misdemeanor charges. A sentencing hearing has been set for late August, 2014.
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The pro-life young people victimized by Miller-Young included Thrin and Joan Short, the daughters of Life Legal Defense Foundation’s Legal Director, Katie Short. The sisters had the presence of mind to capture the altercation on video while calling the police.
The video shows Miller-Young and two students parading through campus with the stolen sign; later, Miller-Young can be seen shoving and grabbing Thrin Short. Although Thrin came away from the attack with visible scratches on both of her arms, the Short family has called for restraint in speaking about Miller-Young.
When interviewed by the police after the incident, Miller-Young said she believed that her theft and destruction of the sign had “set a good example for her students.”
“Today’s plea bring us one step closer to seeing justice done in this case,” comments Short. “Pro-life advocates should not be subjected to intimidation and violence for lawfully exercising their right to free speech, and we are happy to see that Ms. Miller-Young is being held accountable for her actions.”
To date, it is not known whether UCSB has imposed any disciplinary sanctions on Ms. Miller-Young. The University has not made any public statement much less issued an apology for the criminal actions of its employee and students. Two weeks after the incident, Vice-Chancellor Michael Young sent a letter to UCSB students and faculty. While generally supporting free speech, Vice-Chancellor Young decried the presence of “outsiders coming into our midst to provoke us, to taunt us and attempt to turn us against one another.” He urged students to notify the Office of Student Life if they “feel harassed” or believe that “outsiders” are violating the law.
