This is incredibly disappointing:
An event with MP Stephen Woodworth at the University of Waterloo yesterday was derailed as protestors shouted down the speaker, preventing Mr. Woodworth from continuing his presentation to the students assembled. […]
Mr. Woodworth, MP for the Kitchener Centre riding, had brought forward Motion 312 at the House of Commons last year, which called for a re-examination of the 400 year-old definition of a human being in the Canadian Criminal Code. His presentation on Wednesday was to address that topic as well as to take questions from the audience. Mr. Woodworth was only able to get through one third of the presentation before the chanting and yelling prevented him from being heard.
Although campus security was present, they failed to take any kind of action to allow Mr. Woodworth to continue his presentation. When asked to intervene they declined to do so, stating that unless the protesters became violent, they could not step in.
“This is an elected member of our government speaking at an institution that is supposed to have a high value for free speech,” states Clarissa Luluquisin who was in attendance and is the Central Campus Coordinator of the National Campus Life Network, which supports pro-life groups across Canada. “Instead of respectfully listening and then asking questions, we see that the protestors preferred to cling to a few pieces of rhetoric rather than listening to anything Mr. Woodworth might say.”
You can watch a video of the protest here. Yup, they wore the vagina costumes.
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Andrea adds: Talk about unhinged students. Is that a man wearing a uterus? I can’t quite see. Am I allowed to ask, or is that too old-fashioned these days? Who is allowed to call women “c*nts” (sorry for the crassness, but that’s what I heard in the opening line of the video) and pretend it is pro-woman? Pro-choicers, that’s who! Don’t give these students a free pass. This is reprehensible, immature, anti-democratic behaviour masquerading as protest. In genitalia costumes, no less. Really, people. I shake my head. And since there are police officers there, I’d like to ask why they are doing absolutely nothing. Seems to me a bit of a “guiding gently” out the door would have been a really helpful thing.
by 
The University of Waterloo in one or more ways is complicit in this situation. To allow this disruption, which is not a new strategy of pro ‘choice’/reproductive ‘freedom’ proponents, is to imply a pro-choice bias and acceptance that free speech is no free. Perhaps the University will apologize and offer a rescheduling, with a promise of normal protection for speakers, as it did when a similar disruption ended a speech By Christie Blatchford a couple of years ago. That would be a sign the Waterloo stands for fundamental Rights.
Andrea, those were campus ‘police’/security… They were asked to intervene, and stated that they wouldn’t unless things became violent. They even said that the protesters had as much right to free speech as Mr. Woodworth and the organizers.
No one was preventing the protesters from coming, from asking questions, from expressing themselves; they were welcome, in fact. They could wear costumes and carry signs if they so chose, as long as they aren’t blocking anyone’s view.
But, as John Carpay with the JCCF pointed out in a letter to the university today:
“Nobody has a “right” to prevent other people from peacefully expressing their opinions. The right to free expression is protected by Section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and is also protected by the rules, regulations, policies and principles of the University of Waterloo. The right to free expression does not include a right to disrupt, shout down, shut down, or silence those with whom you disagree. Those who disagree with Christie Blatchford, or MP Steven Woodworth, or anyone else, have a right to express their opinions in a peaceful manner, but without preventing others from speaking.”
(letter can be found here: http://www.ncln.ca/blog/justice-centre-for-constitutional-freedoms-asks-university-of-waterloo-to-safeguard-free-speech-on-campus/)
Sigh…
Unfortunately, these folks missed a great opportunity to hear a reasoned presentation by a sincere man who advocates for justice and dignity for all. I heard MP Woodward speak at U of O in late 2012 and was impressed by his respectful acknowledgement of dissenting voices and his sincerity. I only wonder if 10 or 20 years from now, when these young people grow up and (perhaps) have families of their own, they will reflect on this shameful public display of narcissism.
Those campus “security” should be fired.