Eindhoven University of Technology is spreading misinformation: abortion is not a fundamental right. The right to life of unborn children is.
Eindhoven University of Technology comes out as an ‘Abortion University’
'Pray and act to end the sin of abortion! - It really works'. With this message on their banner, our young volunteers stood on the campus of Delft University of Technology. The university has now responded to the protest.
Street Campaigns against Abortion
That week, our young volunteers travelled through the Netherlands and Flanders to draw attention, in city centres and particularly on campuses, to the unborn child, who often dies in silence through abortion. The street campaigns fall under the right to demonstrate and are duly notified to the local council. Normally, the police are then informed and, in the event of a safety risk, proactively provide security. This is in line with Dutch law on demonstrations, which obliges the government to actively facilitate demonstrations.
Counter-demonstrators are making it impossible for our pro-lifers to demonstrate. This is a violation of our right to demonstrate. However, campus security (see the car on the right) refuses to intervene.
Campaign Leader had to call 112 Five Times
There was no question of safety whatsoever on Thursday 12 March on the university campus in Eindhoven. Our volunteers, who were handing out leaflets to students, were soon physically attacked by abortion activists. Campaign leader Kobus Suttorp had to call 112 no fewer than five times before the police arrived. They did not intervene when the demonstration was obstructed by feminists, who covered the banner with their coats. The situation escalated: abortion activists began shoving and pulling at our volunteers. However, the pro-lifers could not count on the police or campus security.
The sight of an unborn child arouses an almost inhuman rage in abortion advocates.
University Board issues a Response
One would think that the university would strongly condemn the aggression against pro-lifers. But TU/e news website Cursor writes: “The Executive Board finds it distasteful that people are coming to demonstrate against a right that is so fundamental, and a major achievement of women’s emancipation, says spokesperson Ivo Jongsma. According to him, the demonstration does not fit within the university’s core values.”
Abortion is not a Fundamental Right
However, abortion is not a fundamental right. It is not enshrined in the Constitution, nor in human rights treaties. Abortion is, however, covered by the Criminal Code. And, far more importantly for us: the laws of God and the Church condemn abortion as a grave sin.
Mild Language regarding Aggression
The university spokesperson states on the intranet: “We therefore understand that people in our community took offence at this demonstration, and that a counter-voice was raised by our community. However, we cannot and will not ban this kind of demonstration.” Note the softening language (“offence”, “raising a counter-voice”) used to describe verbal and physical aggression.
“The Unborn Child is Defenceless”
Our volunteers are used to being contradicted and even to violence. To quote Hugo Bos in his recent radio interview: “Some violence is used against us, but how much worse is the violence against unborn children? We can defend ourselves, we can stand our ground, but the unborn child has no chance whatsoever against the abortionist’s forceps.”
A significant proportion of students responded positively to our message. Do they feel represented by the pro-abortion stance of their university management?
What about Pro-Life Students?
But what about the TU/e students who, on 12 March, showed their support for our pro-life stance? Who enthusiastically accepted a flyer and offered words of encouragement? Their own university is now sending a clear message: your beliefs have no place at our university. This sets the tone for the lectures on medical ethics, theology and political science. So only the pro-abortion view may be expressed there.
Woke Complaint
The abortion activists at TU/e feel the university board’s response is still too lenient. Six hundred and sixty of them have signed a “formal complaint”. The letter is full of obscure woke jargon such as “retraumatisation” and “gendered bodily autonomy”. They demand that demonstrations be notified at least 24 hours in advance from now on, so that “community members” can work from home.
We made a Strong Impression
The formal complaint makes one thing clear: the street campaign has made a very strong impact on the Eindhoven university campus. Activists for wokism, abortion and gender rightly feel their dominance is under threat. The street campaign is breaking their monopoly on shaping public opinion and bringing a fresh pro-life breeze. That sounds like a new street campaign at Eindhoven University of Technology!
‘Why does Mr Jongsma think he can speak for “the community”? What a display of bias at a university that appears to value “diversity”—except when it comes to one of the most controversial medical-ethical issues of recent decades. The protesters are simply right: abortion is morally reprehensible and cannot be defended on scientific or ethical grounds.’ - A telling response shows that the university board’s pro-abortion stance certainly cannot count on broad support. Source: cursor.tue.nl.