Last Updated on July 25, 2022
A few dozen medical students walked out of a University of Michigan ceremony to protest against a keynote speaker who is unashamedly and vocally pro-life.
Dr. Kristin Collier, the assistant professor of medicine at the Michigan school, spoke at a “white coat” ceremony on Sunday, where incoming medical students are given a lab coat and welcomed to the university.
Just over 300 students protested Collier’s speech in a petition which reads: “This is not simply a disagreement on personal opinion; through our demand we are standing up in solidarity against groups who are trying to take away human rights and restrict medical care.”
Footage of the protest can be seen below:
Incoming medical students walk out at University of Michigan’s white coat ceremony as the keynote speaker is openly anti-abortion pic.twitter.com/Is7KmVV811
— Scorpiio (@PEScorpiio) July 24, 2022
Despite the Leftist students walking out, the crowd still loudly cheered when Collier first introduced herself.
Attempts to “cancel” Collier from speaking at the ceremony have been rejected by University of Michigan officials. Mary Masson, the director of public relations at Michigan Medicine told USA Today the ceremony was not politically-oriented and “is not a platform for discussion of controversial issues.”
The University respected Collier’s ability to have personal beliefs. “Its focus will always be on welcoming students into the profession of medicine. Dr. Collier never planned to address a divisive topic as part of her remarks,” Masson added. “However, the University of Michigan does not revoke an invitation to a speaker based on their personal beliefs.”
Earlier this year Collier posted on social media about her pro-life views, where she called the unborn the “most vulnerable” and encouraged feminists to respect the rights of the unborn.
“Holding on to a view of feminism where one fights for the rights of all women and girls, especially those who are most vulnerable. I can’t not lament the violence directed at my prenatal sisters in the act of abortion, done in the name of autonomy,” Collier posted to Twitter.
holding on to a view of feminism where one fights for the rights of all women and girls, especially those who are most vulnerable. I can’t not lament the violence directed at my prenatal sisters in the act of abortion, done in the name of autonomy.
— Kristin Collier (@KristinCollie20) May 4, 2022
As National File previously reported, the University of Michigan faced similar controversy last week when the school’s head football coach Jim Harbaugh gave a keynote speech at a pro-life movement.
“In God’s plan, each unborn human truly has a future filled with potential, talent, dreams and love. I have living proof in my family, my children, and the many thousands that I’ve coached that the unborn are amazing gifts from God to make this world a better place. To me, the right choice is to have the courage to let the unborn be born,” Harbaugh said at a Plymouth (MI) Right To Life event.
Social media users called for Harbaugh to be fired over his views.
READ MORE: Jim Harbaugh Gives Keynote Speech At Pro-Life Event, Takes Criticism On Twitter
Stay tuned to National File for any updates.
