Walking to your classes in the outdoor quad may have looked different this week as a large banner in the middle of campus showed disturbing and bloody images of aborted fetuses. The material was put on display by members of Project Truth, a pro-life abolitionist group that routinely visits public colleges to demonstrate against abortion and distribute their provocative information to the campus community.
Members of the Christian-based organization arrived at the Pittsburg campus around 9 in the morning and stayed till the mid-afternoon on Feb. 27 and 28. They were inviting students and staff nearby to engage in “peaceful conversation,” explained a volunteer who identified herself only as Julie for fear of being doxxed.
“Our goal is to spread awareness of the incidental killing of an innocent human being,” said John Newton, another volunteer.
Abortion is a delicate subject matter and police officers stood by the area to ensure interactions between students and volunteers did not escalate. Mixed reactions to the material caused both agreements and disagreements as some students left conversations content or visibly frustrated and one student was seen kicking down one of their anti-abortion signs.
“People are arguing sacrifice is used wrongly,” Abigail Abono said. “I understand wanting to save babies, but I think they are here to get a rise out of people.”
“I don’t think their intent is to hurt anybody but to get a message out that they believe pro-life,” Marcus Williams said, adding, “People need to be more open-minded.”
In the past, Project Truth has visited the campuses across the Contra Costa Community College District and the interactions have been “pretty calm,” Lt. Ryan Huddleston said. But he added that one incident occurred years ago at DVC where a disagreement escalated, and some property was damaged, but it hasn’t happened since.
“A lot of times it does elicit a response from people on campus,” Huddleston said, “some positive, some negative.”
When community groups choose to sell items or distribute information, it is protected under freedom of speech and expression. However, members normally apply through the LMC website under Student Life and are designated an area of campus for solicitation.
“I think that that is a healthy part of public higher education in this country. We can be a place for people to share their thoughts, share their ideas,” said Dave Belman, dean of Student Success, who added that the college recognizes “there might be people who don’t agree with everything that is shared and said on campus.”
This demonstration was not the first, but it is rarely planned with the knowledge of college representatives. Director of Student Life and Services Teresea Archaga and Belman said they were “not aware” the group would visit despite volunteer James Wilberforce telling The Experience that they “call ahead” before arriving on any campus.
The group last visited LMC in 2017 when the campus was informed about the plan ahead of time and resulted in a counter-protest. But this time the visit appears unexpected.
Amid criticism of their methods, the group has members across the Bay Area and in other states, but are not affiliated with a specific church. According to volunteer Wilberforce, their purpose is to address the “awfulness of abortion” and the brochure handed out to students shared personal stories of regret from women who have had abortions among other provocative material.
“We have an agenda when we come out here. We’re trying to end abortion, but not by force. By getting people to understand that these are human beings,” Wilberforce said, “so that’s our tactics, that’s our goal.
The Project Truth demonstration this past week may have been unexpected and possibly disturbing to members of the campus community, but resources are available to help. Students have access to TimelyCare, a free, 24/7 virtual mental and medical resource, and employee support is available through the district’s Employee Assistance Program.
— Sarah Capperauld and Lauren Gannod contributed to this story
