* Trigger warning: The following story includes graphic images.*

These past few weeks there has been a bit of a dispute on campus concerning the south plaza outside of the library (Building 25) reserved for free speech where several men have planted themselves with anti-abortion posters. The President of Highline College sent out an email regarding this issue saying “As a State agency, guests may visit our campus to express personal views and opinions (WAC 132I-140-012).”

The proselytizers standing in the south plaza have very graphic posters of what they claim to be an aborted baby (which just looks more like a very unfortunate miscarriage), or what can also be called a spontaneous abortion. In an interview with one of them, it was said that they work with a community called Tiny Heartbeats Ministries.

The demonstrators spoke to the ThunderWord on the condition of anonymity. 

Their goal in these campus visits: “We want to engage as many people as we can in conversation about them. You know, that stems from our religious beliefs.” However, their mission doesn’t end there. “And the second is to win as many people as we can over to Christianity in these terms. That’s it.”

Highline has extensive Petitioner/Free-Speech guidelines that are also sourced in the President’s email, one of which explicitly says, “Petitioner/free-speech activity may not create unreasonable safety risks nor an imminent threat, health or safety hazard.” 

However, Highline student MacKenzie Charles states, “They [the men] immediately close the space around you to reference the disturbing poster boards and ask ‘What do you think of this?’” She dives further into her interaction, explaining, “If you ignore them, the men become predatory and ask again ‘You have nothing to say about this?’” 

While this is not in direct violation to the schools’ guidelines it’s obviously an uncomfortable situation as students are, most likely, not expecting to be approached by these men in the middle of the school day, and then asked to share their personal beliefs on top of that. “I’ve passed them several times and seen them practice this routine on many people, everyone seems to be visibly disturbed by their approach to this matter,” Charles continues. 

The signs the gentlemen are holding have Bible verses on them, one refers to Proverbs 14:12 but not completely, the actual verse says “There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.” 

Another sign refers to Psalm 14:1, once again not completely. 

The original verse says, “Fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is no one who does good.” A common interpretation of this verse is a rejection of God’s existence stemming from a moral and spiritual corruption. The “fool” is someone who denies God because they do not want to be accountable to Him for their wicked and corrupt behavior. 

The email sent out to faculty, staff, and students addresses the more aggressive approach the men take – having received complaints and worries – said, “While we have noncollege groups on campus exercising their free speech rights, it is imperative that our students, employees, and visitors feel safe whenever they are on our campus.”

Library staff have not been immune to the presence of these men. “Students, faculty, and staff are not happy that the front of the library is one of the Free Speech areas of campus. They don’t understand why it’s allowed,” one library staff member commented.

They continued, “They primarily want to talk to young men….Women ask us if there’s another way to exit the building….”

An important note to reiterate is the fact that although the boldness of the men in the plaza is discomforting and may stray some students from entering the library or even exiting, they are not technically breaking any rules so far.

If you feel unsafe or do not want to talk with these men, there is a separate entrance/exit to the library on the opposite side of the building, or you can report them to Public Safety, and if you need you can visit the counseling center.