This story was originally published in Vol. 34, Issue 3 (November 2023)
The Students For Life of America club at WSU Vancouver put up a demonstration on the lawn by the Classroom Building on Oct. 23, consisting of rows of red flags in a tight formation with a sign that read:
“Cemetery of the Innocent—Each one of these flags represents 2 abortions in Washington State between July – December 2022 post the Dobbs decision. That’s approximately 1,926 abortions monthly.”
The Dobbs decision refers to Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, ruling that the US constitution does not protect the right to an abortion.
Students for Life of America, founded in 2006 in Fredericksburg, Virginia, has a mission statement to ‘Recruit, Train, & Mobilize the Pro-Life Generation to abolish abortion,’ growing over a thousand student chapters across the country, including at WSU Vancouver.
According to WSU Vancouver chapter President Matthew Guiher, they are a pro-life club, but are not religious or directly affiliated with any churches or groups within Clark County. The group’s main purpose is to educate the community on pro-life issues, as well as to encourage debate among the student body on campus.
“It’s important for people to know the number of abortions that are happening in our state, as it is the number one leader of death in our state,” said Guiher. “The display gives a face to the issue that often goes unseen by most people.”
Guiher cited approximately 1,926 monthly abortions between July and December of 2022 from the #WeCount report released on Oct. 24 by the Society of Family Planning, which lists the Post-Dobbs decision monthly average of abortions from July 2022 through June 2023 in Washington State as 1,936.
WSU Vancouver students had varied opinions regarding the demonstration. One student, undergraduate Brady Gagnon, didn’t know what the display was about until someone mentioned it.
“I honestly didn’t notice it at first, I’ve been in class all day, but I did read it, but I mean it’s just another thing that the students are putting up,” said Gagon.
Other students were more direct with their opinion on the display. Simone Huynh, a member of Northwest Collegiate Ministries, a Christian club on WSU Vancouver’s campus, supported the display but expressed her concern over its reach to students on campus.
“I found it very thought provoking,” said Huynh. “I’m glad to see people making a peaceful effort to stand for what’s right. As for their effectiveness, I’m not quite sure how to measure that exactly. I think it’s very effective in raising awareness of the situation and visualizing the reality behind the numbers we often see in spreadsheets or article statistics. At the end of the day, I do hope that the gesture was able to make a difference in at least a few people that encountered it.”
While the Student for Life of America took their display down after one week in accordance with campus regulations, the group plans to hold another event in November with the theme to be decided.
On Oct. 31, WSU Vancouver club Survivors United put up their own demonstration in the same location with a patch of marigold flowers. Their sign read:
“Honoring the lives taken due to sexual assault and domestic violence.”
Survivors United’s mission is to bring more awareness and education on sexual assault and domestic violence, as well as providing resources and a safe space for survivors. According to Survivors United President Kiara Reyes Ramirez, their demonstration was put up in part as a response to Students for Life of America’s demonstration, stating that limits and bans on abortion take access to resources away from victims of sexual assault. Reyes Ramirez felt that victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and their needs deserve more attention and support.
“It was kind of in retaliation,“ said Reyes Ramirez. “I felt very pissed, very angry with the way [aborted fetuses] are being portrayed as real lives. I don’t believe they are real lives, they’re just not the same as people who have lived and experienced life. [Our demonstration] is honoring real lives and spreading awareness.”
Survivors United Vice President Karina Stubbs also shared her thoughts on Students for Life of America’s demonstration.
“It was a subtle attack,” said Stubbs. “It’s something that is not just controversial or a political thing, it is a subject that is actively taking away people’s freedom and bodily autonomy, and marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by limits or bans on abortion. [Students for Life of America’s demonstration] may also be triggering, like if someone had an abortion and they’re being told it’s wrong, that it’s a sin, it’s very negative.”
Survivors United’s demonstration was also a celebration of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and was up until Nov. 7. Reyes Ramirez and Stubbs welcomed people to bring offerings like food and flowers to the demonstration to be a part of the celebration.
“It’s all about remembrance,” said Reyes Ramirez. “I’m Mexican and we ordered marigolds because it’s Día de los Muertos. These are actual lives that went through something and, you know, you’re honoring that and celebrating these lives, that they were here during the time.”
Midori Davis, a staff writer of The VanCougar, contributed to this report.