Pro-life protesters displaying graphic images of abortion at the university and college this week have upset students.

An anti-abortion rally was held Wednesday at the Okanagan College campus. Students set up their own rally beside it, arguing for pro-choice.

Okanagan College students Xenon Tyner and Hannah Stanley say they stand at the opposite side, with a pro-choice sign reading sa国际传媒渕ind your own uterus,sa国际传媒� because they want to show both sides of the issue.

sa国际传媒淚n the past, theysa国际传媒檝e had an emotional impact on people,sa国际传媒� said Tyner. sa国际传媒淲e wanted to be here to show people who are affected by their messages that wesa国际传媒檙e here to hear their voices as well.sa国际传媒�

Stanley said she wanted to create a safe space for students.

The graphic pro-life images depict various stages of bloody fetuses.

The choice should be left to the individual, said Stanley, sa国际传媒渁nd on a practical level, if you outlaw abortion, people will still have them in an unsafe way. So the message that theysa国际传媒檙e pushing on people is not going to help in any way.sa国际传媒�

Students have been harassed by the pro-life protestors in the past, said Stanley, adding the pro-life rally isnsa国际传媒檛 appropriate to have on campus as a few students approached them in tears.

The decision was made to protest at UBCO and the college using the graphics because the age group is most likely to get abortions and students are still forming their beliefs, said spokesperson for the Kelowna Right to Life Society Marlon Bartram.

The society refrains from the graphic displays at public intersections because of children in public settings, he said, but will display them at the colleges and universities because itsa国际传媒檚 unlikely they will encounter children.

Bartram said the images used are not propaganda because theysa国际传媒檙e truthful images and the images are from actual abortions.

He believes the right to life trumps all other rights.

Phil Ashman, Central Okanagan regional dean, at Okanagan College said the college abides by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in allowing the protest to go on.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 not really that the college believes one way or another, itsa国际传媒檚 that anyone who wants to share their opinion on something is able to,sa国际传媒� he said.

As long as a safe space is provided for students and they are able to get to classes unobstructed, are guiding principles for the college, said Ashman.

The pro-life protestors have been on the college campus once before, and say they will try and rally at the college and university once a semester.

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carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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