No jail time for disruptors
Pro-abortion activists who disrupted a pro-life speech at Virginia Commonwealth University will not have a criminal record and only had to perform community service.
Law enforcement originally charged Natalie Hoskins with simple assault and Anthony Marvin with disorderly conduct, according to police reports obtained by The College Fix. Neither are students at VCU.
Hoskins completed 20 hours of community service and subsequently had her charges dropped, according to court documents. Marvin completed 50 hours of community service and had to meet “other conditions,” according to Commonwealth Attorney of Richmond Colette McEachin.
Hoskins faced up to a year in prison and a fine for her charge. Marvin faced the same punishment for disrupting the speech by Students for Life of America President Kristan Hawkins.
“When the defendant doesn’t have a criminal record or if the crime is not too severe (trespass, vandalism, etc.) it’s the policy of my office to offer community service as an alternative to being convicted of the crime and thus winding up with a criminal record,” she told The Fix via email.
She also said that the defendant can choose to perform the service at a nonprofit or community organization. She did not say where, in particular, the two individuals volunteered.
The March 30 event included a brawl and injuries to pro-life students and staff for Students for Life of America. “As a series of altercations unfolded, a number of pro-life students and SFLA staff were assaulted resulting in several complaints filed and EMTs called to the scene to treat injuries,” the pro-life group stated.
“City police were called and oddly detained SFLA team members and the pro-life students, allowing the Antifa and Transgender activists to disperse peacefully,” Students for Life wrote in a news release at the time. “Meanwhile, peaceful pro-life individuals were behind closed doors, and SFLA property and signs were stolen and vandalized.”
A subsequent do-over event in April included four more charges against suspects.
“Members of the domestic terrorist group Antifa and pro-abortion students crowded into the room, passed around chant sheets (written specifically for Hawkins), screamed their hatred loudly, and several were ultimately arrested,” Students for Life Media rep Caroline Wharton wrote on May 1.
“Around 100 people showed up for her speech — and about 40 of those turned out to be pro-abortion protestors and local Antifa members,” Wharton said.
She recently told The Fix disruptions are common at their events.
“Unfortunately, disruption at Students for Life of America events is all too commonplace,” Wharton said in an email on Nov. 28.
“Our team members and student groups often face severe hostility and intimidation from pro-abortion students on campus, and many school administrations either choose to ignore it or pile on themselves with censorship, unreasonable fees, and an intentional lack of peacekeeping.”
MORE: Texas community college agrees to stop censoring pro-life speech
IMAGE: Kristan Hawkins/Twitter
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