Pro-lifers didn’t let people choose whether to see their graphic signs

Editor: Today at school (Oct. 12) at the Kelowna campus of Okanagan College, I witnessed something that wasn’t totally unfair, but parts of it were.

I believe everyone has the right to voice their opinion, but in the right way that isn’t harmful, bullying or harassing others.

There were approximately a dozen prolife protesters at the school, with very disruptive, sad six-foot tall images posted in the courtyard of our school of little fetuses.

I’m not here to argue about pro life or pro choice, but I, myself, am wanting to make a change for those who had no choice but to see these photos.

While walking through the courtyard today, I had seen multiple girls/young women walking away from these protesters in tears. As an Early Childhood Educator (ECE), I see this as a very sad situation.

There are young children who walk through that courtyard each day to get to daycare, preschool or workshops that my fellow classmates organize for them.

They don’t need to see the sad six-foot tall photos that were plastered through the court yard.

A protester stopped me and my argument to the lady that stopped me was that it’s everyone’s own independent choice.

She argued and argued with me and then began to notice my ECE sweater and she said to me, “you wouldn’t want to see a little child cut up in tiny pieces would you?”

That was enough to hurt me. That was enough to hurt the ones around me, my colleagues, fellow students and teachers.

If they want to come to the college, great, let them, but give the students there a warning, not every one wants to see the horrific photos that were plastered. Everyone has a right to their opinion, and everyone can have a voice, but this event crossed this line. We have a choice.

Melanie Darbyshire, Kelowna