About a week ago, the group Advocates for Life at the College of William & Mary set up a display in a highly trafficked campus location to bring attention to the number of abortions that have taken place each year. Mere hours later it was destroyed, preventing the students from exercising their rights to freedom of speech and political protest. A student has been arrested in connection with the event and has been charged with a misdemeanor.
This comes hot on the heels of Black Lives Matter protestors shutting down an ACLU talk about Freedom of Speech in the Fall.
Here is the original story about the display being torn down:
http://wtkr.com/2018/01/25/pro-life-display-at-william-mary-destroyed-hours-after-it-was-set-up/
In my opinion this student, and the students who have come out to support him, has shown an incredible lack of decency and pragmatism. This story quickly made national news on conservative sites like Life News. The display now has more sympathy and attention than it ever would have had otherwise. In many ways, perhaps the pro-life group, which plans to set up a new display, should celebrate this event. I'm sure many eyes will be on their new display, and if anything were to happen to the new display, the full force of national conservative groups would be on their side.
All that this kid has accomplished by destroying the display is probably getting a major fine, maybe going to jail, and gaining sympathy and support for the pro-life group. The law, and the constitution, clearly side with the rights of the pro-life organization. Certainly not a well thought out or pragmatic scheme.
Given other recent events at the College were an ACLU speaker was shouted down and fraternity houses were vandalized with the word "rapist" spray-painted on them, maybe this will send a message that breaking the law is not the way to convince people to join your side or take you seriously.