SL Week 3: G.A.P. Protest

Last week, on Wednesday and Thursday, you may have seen the Genocide Awareness Project (GAP) on campus with huge posters, displays and even 2 trucks driving around UCF all in an attempt to compare abortion to historical instances of genocide. Not only were the displays hard to miss, they were downright offensive with images of the Holocaust and lynchings being compared to the supposed aborted fetuses they displayed. This SGA funded event, brought to our campus by Students for Life, was set up on the free speech lawn by the library and in front of the student union and on the stage. The National Organization for Women counter protested by setting up before GAP even arrived, reducing their space to set up displays. VOX was out in front of the union, where we tabled, handed out condoms, stood with signs in solidarity with friends, members and random students to promote that a womyn has a right to choose! We counter protested by being there for the student body, and not engaging with those affiliated with GAP, even though it was difficult at times. I think our composure and attitude allowed students to come up to VOX and vent their frustrations about GAP being at UCF, and it increased our presence, and hopefully our membership, to those who may not have realized that their is a group who advocates for choice. It was encouraging to see so much support for reproductive justice from new faces although it kind of stunk that it took something so obnoxious, racist and misinformed to get a reaction out of the student body. But now we are working to stop GAP from being funded or even allowed back at UCF and with VOX, NOW and individual students support, hopefully we will be successful. (SGA will be having a discussion about GAP and its funding this Thursday, February 25th from 5-7pm so if you were outraged show your support and show up!)