An anti-abortion group was forced to leave the Free Speech Area after its graphic posters alarmed audience members at a Women's Center event last week.

The group, called Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust, stood on the sidewalks surrounding the Free Speech Area on April 22 for about 20 minutes before students started confronting them.

The four-foot poster boards with pictures of aborted fetuses were what really grabbed everyone's attention. The posters included a picture of a fetus aborted in the third trimester of pregnancy, a procedure only performed in emergency situations.

Victoria Soria, member of the Christian pro-life group, admitted that the pictures were horrifying, but they want to show college students, especially women, what an abortion really is.

"A lot of girls we talked to after they had the abortions did not know what the procedure was going to be like," Soria said.

She said she talks to many women at the pregnancy crisis center where she works. Soria said the women did not know of the emotional and physical effects of an abortion until after they had the procedure.

Emily Ruffridge, a Chico State senior, thought the pictures went too far and said she was horribly offended.

"I should not be harassed like this," Ruffridge said. "They make people feel like they're horrible creatures."

Ruffridge was the first student to confront the anti-abortion group. She had been listening to speakers at "Breaking the Silence" when she saw the anti-abortion group standing with large pictures and handing out fliers. The event, which was raising awareness of domestic violence, hate crimes, child abuse and violence against the earth, was sponsored by the Women's Center and EARC.

Liliana Blanco, one of the organizers of "Breaking the Silence," said they never complained about the anti-abortion group. By the time they approached university officials, the situation was already being handled, she said.

Blanco said she didn't oppose the anti-abortion group's right to free speech, but she didn't want any negativity around the area they had reserved.

"We were trying to create a safe place for people to come and discuss these issues," Blanco said. "That picture alone brought nothing but negativity."

She said any other day the anti-abortion group would've been allowed to stay there.

Ruffridge's dispute with the group lasted a few minutes. She said she didn't understand why the group was there and that they were just disrupting a positive day.

"You know how many people you're horrifying with this," Ruffridge told Soria. "You guys shouldn't be out here with this sign and telling women what they should do with their bodies."

Soria told Ruffridge they weren't shouting out slogans or speaking to anyone unless spoken to first. She said all they were doing was handing out fliers and displaying the pictures.

During the heated discussion, Soria's fellow group members had already walked up, grabbed the poster board and moved to another area. The Los Angeles-based group had around 10 people traveling with them that day. According to the group's Web site, 18-year-olds to 29-year-olds are paid up to $600 a month to tour campuses and present their pro-life stance.

They travel to universities and high school campuses across the nation. They were headed to a Chico high school later that day.

"A majority of abortions happen to college-age and high school-age women," Soria said. "That's the main target of the abortion industry."

The group set up their poster boards in front of the Bell Memorial Union food court, but it was only a few minutes before a group of students confronted them there. Rick Rees, associate director of Student Activities, approached the group and told them they had to move farther away from the Free Speech Area.

He said he received complaints from students and told the anti-abortion group to leave the campus. Rees said since the Women's Center and EARC had reserved the area, other groups weren't allowed to disrupt their event.

"It's a way to protect free speech," Rees said. "They can't disrupt your rights to freedom of expression."

Rees compromised with the anti-abortion group and allowed them to set-up just north of Meriam Library, but they left the campus an hour later.

He said universities have the right and the duty to regulate the time and place for free speech. Rees said the anti-abortion group never notified the university that they would be there.

"If you come to somebody's place of business or education, you should let them know," Rees said. "I don't know of any campus that allows you to have events just anywhere."

Rosalio Ahumada can be reached at: rahumada@orion-online.net

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