On Monday, April 15, the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, in collaboration with Turning Point USA at ETSU, presented the “Genocide Awareness Project” which travels to college campuses across the country to promote anti-abortion ideology.

Demonstrators have filled Borchuck Plaza to hand out pamphlets to students walking by. These pamphlets compare abortion to historical genocides including the Holocaust and slavery in the United States.

“CBR exists to create the cultural awareness that is foundational to ending legalized abortion,” said Amanda Levi, student outreach coordinator.

The demonstration set up in Borchuck Plaza features images of mutilated fetuses, dead children of the Holocaust and Rwandan Genocide along with their beliefs on rape and “childhood mutilation.”

“There were people here today who still believe that life does not begin at conception despite 98% of scientists backing that up,” said Lakie Derrick, president of TPUSA at ETSU. “I also talked to people today who believe that these images are fake, when these are actually the real thing.”

Graphic images including pictures of the Holocaust murder and the Rwandan genocide on display. (Connor Lute/East Tennessean)

The last time CBR demonstrated at ETSU was during the fall of 2022. Several ETSU students came together to protest the demonstration considering Roe v. Wade had just been overturned five months prior. The graphic images that CBR displays have created a major discomfort for students passing by.

“It’s very triggering to people who have had abortions, it’s really triggering to people who have had miscarriages,” said sophomore Hannah Shiver. “They’re comparing it to genocide and lynchings when there’s an actual genocide going on right now…so I think this is really disgusting. Last year, pretty much no one was in support of this and they’re doing it yet again. I just think this is a gross misrepresentation of what abortion is.”

On April 15, petitioner Autumn N. created a petition to have CBR removed from campus. The petitioner states, “These people do not know the experiences of the women on campus, it is traumatizing and potentially dangerous to be projecting fake pictures of ‘dead fetuses’ to an entire population of not only college students but children who may be attending for field trips or activities.”

The petition has gained 581 signatures as of Tuesday, April 16, at 4:30 p.m.

“When the people around here say that we shouldn’t be here, we say ‘If you can tell us why it’s okay to decapitate and dismember little human beings, then we’ll pack up and go home,’” said Levi.

CBR will continue demonstrating in Borchuck Plaza until 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17, according to their reservation on 25 Live.

 

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