Posted Thursday, Oct. 19, 6:35 p.m.
Updated Friday, Oct. 20, 6:13 p.m.
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An abortion demonstration broke out on campus Thursday when three anti-abortion organizations came to Foggy Bottom as part of a nationwide tour.
Nearly 150 GW abortion rights activists gathered throughout the afternoon to counter-protest several dozen anti-abortion activists outside Kogan Plaza. About 10 University Police Department officers monitored the scene during the conflict, though UPD Chief Dolores Stafford said no one was written up or arrested. Stafford added that Metropolitan Police Department officers arrived at the scene mid-afternoon.
The anti-abortion activists, including several children, stopped at GW as part of the “Face the Truth” tour of the Virginia, Maryland and D.C. region, which began Monday. Activists traveled from as far away as Wisconsin, Arkansas and Florida to participate in the week-long tour.
Some students used signs, chants and megaphones to counter the protesters, who also had megaphones. The anti-abortion activists used large posters and graphic images of aborted fetuses as well as read scriptures from the Bible.
“It’s a shame that there is not more discussion about this subject,” said Nathan Buchinger, who traveled to D.C. from Wisconsin to participate in the tour. “We try to give a rational viewpoint from the Bible, with reason as well.”
In the early afternoon, the number of students reached its peak with about 150 anti-abortion activists standing on the North side of H Street, directly across the street from where the anti-abortion demonstrators stood.
“These images are inappropriate,” said Amanda Bates, a senior on the executive board of Voices for Choices, a student organization.
“I found out they were on campus at 11:30 and sent out an e-mail and said anyone with a pro-choice t-shirt . should come out and show support.”
She said several dozen members from Voices for Choices counter-protested.
-Eric Roper and Kaitlyn Jahrling contributed to this report.
