Two arrested after Antifa attack pro-life students, shut down speaking event at Virginia Commonwealth University

During a Students for Life of America (SFLA) event on Wednesday at Virginia Commonwealth University, pro-life organizers were forced by campus police to shut down their event after Antifa members got violent, assaulting pro-life attendees. Two people were arrested.

The event featured SFLA President Kristin Hawkins and Student Ambassador Isabel Brown who were set to talk about "lies pro-choicers believe," according to an SFLA blog post.

Hawkins and Brown were shouted down by protestors, many of whom were carrying signs and covering their faces, some of which were dressed in black.

The Antifa disruptors shouted "fascists go home," "Nazis go home," and "f*ck pro-lifers," and used their signs to block those who were taking video of the crowd in the room.

The event took a violent turn, with a number of pro-life students and SFLA staff members being assaulted, which according to SFLA, resulted in "several complaints filed and EMTs called to the scene to treat injuries."

President of Students for Life at VCU, Autumn Walser, received an injury to her leg, while another fellow student received cuts and scratches from an aggressive protestor clawing at her. SLFA Documentarian Kevin Feliciano was struck with and blocked by signs to prevent the recording of the Antifa assailants.

"Antifa came for a fight," said Students for Life of America Executive Vice President Tina Whittington who attended the event.

"Students for Life will be providing security for Autumn on campus for the near future until we can be sure that she is safe here," said Hawkins. "And we will be demanding that VCU invite me and Isabel back to hold an event that is safe for all to attend."

"The protestors had three chants they kept recycling, ‘Fascists Go Home;’ ‘Nazis Go Home;’ and ‘F**k Pro-lifers,’” said Whittington. "It was so ridiculous. That’s the definition of fascism and Naziism — not allowing for free speech. They wouldn’t allow other ideas to be expressed, and in a way, they won, even though pro-life students stayed to talk after the event."

According to SFLA, Hawkins’ security whom she had been traveling with had to step in to protect both her and other pro-life attendees in the crowd.

Whittington noted that as security was assisting a pro-life woman in the crowd, people fell against each other due to the crowd pressing forward, leading one pro-abortion woman to claim that she may have been assaulted.

"I did not see any assault from pro-life students or audience members, but I did see protestors shoving and pushing in the crowd, including going after our videographer," said Whittington.  

Instead of addressing the violent crowd, campus police asked Hawkins to leave. Hawkins refused, telling campus police "you would have to arrest me. I’m not leaving."

"The free speech rights of pro-life Americans and especially pro-life students are at stake," said Hawkins after the event. "We can’t stop meeting for fear of opposition."

SFLA said that city police were called, and "oddly detained SFLA team members and the pro-life students, allowing the Antifa and Transgender activists to disperse peacefully. Meanwhile, peaceful pro-life individuals were behind closed doors, and SFLA property and signs were stolen and vandalized."

"Silencing the peaceful people because of fear of the loud and violent makes us all less safe,” said Hawkins. “We will be back to ensure that free speech truly exists at VCU.”  

According to WRIC, two people were arrested in connection to the event.

Natalie Hoskins III, 22, and Anthony Marvin, 30, both of Richmond were arrested. The university revealed that neither of the two are affiliated with VCU.

Hoskins was charged with simple assault and Marvin was charged with disorderly conduct.

A student body president at VCU was previously revealed to have advocated for the killing of law enforcement and calling for rioting.

In 2021, it was revealed that Taylor Marie Maloney, 20, was championed by the ACLU of Virginia for being the "first openly transgender and non-binary person" elected to the position. Social media posts from Maloney showing their advocacy for killing cops, rioting, looting, vandalism, and hatred of white people.