Updated: Crosses stolen again, time for school to bring perpetrators to justice
After crosses were stolen once again from St. Louis University’s campus (SLU), Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America released the following statement:
“We are glad the SLU president condemned the first act of vandalization last week, and we ask the president to condemn this as well. However, what is needed now is for the school to bring both the first and second group of vandals to justice. The school has videos on the first act, but there has been no progress in finding the perpetrators and bringing them to justice. The fact that a pro-life group at a Catholic campus cannot have a display opposing violence in all forms, including abortion, indicates a disease running through the university campus culture.”
Brielle Heraty, a member of SLU Students for Life added, “Last time our display was stolen we were incredibly saddened as this was clearly a demonstration of ignorance. Our display was not solely abortion focused as we believe in a consistent life ethic. How could one not be against homicide??? This time however, while we are still sad, we are also extremely frustrated because this message is loud and clear: the pro-life position is not welcome on our campus. This is a direct attempt to silence our pro-life beliefs and a direct attack on free speech. If our views are not safe on this campus, nobody’s views are.”
Late Monday night, vandals at St. Louis University, a Catholic university in St. Louis, destroyed a Cemetery of Innocents display. The display was commemorating lives lost to abortion and other types of violence.
“Once again, pro-life free speech has been squelched on an university campus. It was truly an atrocious act to steal crosses from this inclusive event that represent lives lost to abortion, homicide, and those who suffer in poverty in our nation. Students for Life strongly condemns the anti-free speech disease that is plaguing our college campuses. The Students for Life group at St. Louis University was bringing a message of truth, love, and compassion to their campus. The intolerant people who ruined a display about the value of life should feel ashamed. We hope the university will quickly find the perpetrators and replace our students’ crosses,” said Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life of America.
Reagan Barklage, Western Regional Director said, “It’s very unfortunate that when a pro-life group uses their free speech rights as an approved student group, that their display is not only vandalized, but stolen. This display was a memorial for those lives ended by abortion and other acts of violence, and to see it completely destroyed is not only disrespectful to SLU Students for Life, but also to all of those innocent lives that were taken. I hope that the administration at St. Louis University holds whomever is responsible for this hideous action accountable.”
Brielle Heraty, a member of SLU Students for Life said, the club is “deeply saddened to see our display stolen. However, we wholeheartedly forgive the perpetrators of this act and hope that we can come to a place of common ground, effective dialogue, and pursuit of truth….SLU SFL is mobilizing and we will not allow our voices to be silenced. We will continue to be a voice for life from conception until death, advocating for the most vulnerable among us regardless of age, appearance, ability, or background.”
A report has been filed with the university and the issue is under investigation.
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