Photos of aborted fetuses were on display in the free speech area of the Bakersfield College campus on March 9. The banner-sized pictures were brought on campus by Project Truth, an organization dedicated to spreading their anti-abortion message to college campuses. Students received the demonstration in a mostly civil manner and engaged in conversations with representatives while others stood aside listening. The discussions also sparked debates between students.
Organizers of the display passed out anti-abortion literature and spoke to students, giving their position to preserve life. Some of the handouts included information about how to seek out counseling after getting an abortion, some facts associated with abortions and included a discussion about how abortion clinics are targeting minorities. The group also offered a DVD that shows an abortion being conducted.
One of the Project Truth’s members named Don, who didn’t want to give his last name for fear of threats against him, stated their position and reason for visiting BC.
“Our main focus is to show people that an abortion is an act of violence that kills a baby and we have no business doing that,” Don said.
Some students agreed with Project Truth’s crusade while others felt that the pictures and propaganda were horrible scare tactics and believed they had no right to be on campus.
BC student Kara Wesley felt that the photos and presentation were effective and appropriate because she believes some students are seeing the photos and changing their viewpoints on abortion.
“I think it’s great. People need to know exactly what’s going on with decisions they’re about to make,” Wesley said.
Veronica Ortega was another student who agreed with the anti-abortion message being presented and feels that it’s wrong to have an abortion regardless of the circumstances involved.
“I think that even if you were raped, you shouldn’t get an abortion – in my opinion. I know I wouldn’t,” Ortega said.
Other students in attendance that favored anti-abortion decisions disagreed with Project Truth’s message and methods and felt that some instances are acceptable to have an abortion while other pro abortion rights students disagreed immensely with Project Truth and their campaign.
BC student Rebecca Mateer is against abortions but feels that sometimes abortions are necessary.
“I think there are situations that call for it, like the whole ‘rape’ thing. I think if you are raped and you don’t want to have a child because it reminds you of that situation that happened, I’m all for it because that’s just going to make you relieve your life every single day,” she said.
Mateer also commented how the pictures are inappropriate because some women who have had an abortion may become distraught or overcome with guilt and try to harm themselves because of the decision they’ve made.
BC student Veronica Ramos was upset about Project Truth coming on to the campus with their message and felt that abortions are necessary in many cases and to say that they should stop is ridiculous. Her friend David Neill, who is also a BC student, disagreed with the message but still felt Project Truth had the right to be on campus.
“I think them coming out here is their decision. Yea they have freedom of speech, and as long as they’re not shoving it down everyone’s throat, then I think they have a right to speak because everyone has their own opinions,” Neill said. He, along with Ramos, felt the display would have been better served in the Fireside Room or another location indoors.
Other students who didn’t have a strong position on abortions discussed their reactions to seeing such images for the first time.
Ryan Roman sat on the benches with his friends and stared at the pictures for a while unsure of what to think about what he was witnessing. “I’ve never actually seen it so it gives a strong message about abortion,” he said.
Jennifer Sawyer felt that the photos were a little offensive but at the same time an “eye-opener.” “I never seen an aborted baby before but now that I’ve seen it, it’s a horrible thing,” she said.
At one time during the event, there was a verbal incident that occurred with a few students who began to shout out “We don’t want you here!” and “Leave. We’ll make our own decisions!” The incident drew the attention of public safety officials, dean of students Joyce Coleman and Student Government Association president Lisa English who tried to get Project Truth to vacate the premises. Additionally, one of the Project Truth members was holding a video camera, recording everything going on, which prompted Coleman to place her hand in front of the camera in an effort to get the man to stop recording.
The attempts by Coleman and English proved unsuccessful and the man filming was allowed to continue. Public safety officer Chris Counts said that BC is an open campus and that they have the right just like anyone else taking pictures on campus though they would be prevented from recording indoors in places such as classrooms.
“We’re just here to keep the peace. There were some people getting rowdy earlier and we just want to make sure that they’re able to say what they want to say and they’re able to say want they want to say but in a civil manner,” Counts said. He confirmed that no students had to be removed from the premises.
Don stated Project Truth’s position that the public areas of the campus are free speech areas and it is not illegal to organize such an event on campus with or without the school’s permission.
“The courts have ruled that the campus is a free speech area, it’s a marketplace for ideas and this is a public school and because it is, these are public sidewalks. You can come and present your stuff and talk to people, you don’t have to ask permission, however, we do let the colleges know we’re coming ahead of time and let them know what we’re doing. A lot of times [schools] want us to register with them and we don’t have a problem with that,” Don said.
According to English, it is confirmed that Project Truth did notify BC in advance that they would be on campus.
Project Truth campaigns all across the US according to Don, “We have four different teams that go all over the country and we live here so we do this area. Our group, in Northern California, has been doing this about five years.” They are currently on their spring tour stopping by high schools and college campuses.
The group members collectively have been campaigning for over 25 years in various organizations spreading the anti-abortion message. Don said that the most surprising thing to him is how many women don’t know what an abortion looks like.