Protesters disrupt event at Tufts University on the morality of abortion

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Pro-abortion rights protesters at Tufts University disrupted a forum discussing the morality of abortion, leading event organizers to call campus police. 

Key Players

João Ribeiro serves as the co-president of the Tufts chapter of the Federalist Society, a conservative and libertarian legal organization. 

Yolanda Smith serves as the chief and executive director of public safety for the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD). 

Further Details

In the lead up to the event, entitled “Is Abortion Morally Justified in America?” the Tufts chapter of Planned Parenthood Generation Action planned to “peacefully protest” the event outside the venue. 

On Sept. 29, 2023, the Federalist Society held the forum. Two speakers, Harvard Law School professor Stephen Sachs and Boston College philosophy professor Gregory Fried, were invited to discuss both anti- and pro-abortion rights views. However, protesters stymied the event. 

At 5:30 p.m., protesters entered the venue, filled the seats in the first row, and continuously interrupted the speakers. One protester held up a sign that said, “I love abortions,” while another used a noise machine that played loud sounds of cars honking, dogs barking, doorbells ringing, wolves howling, and crowds booing. 

The panel struggled to speak over the noise, leading Federalist Society members to call the TUPD. An officer arrived at about 5:51 p.m. But members of the audience continued to shout at the speakers until a second officer arrived at 6:13 p.m. TUPD remained at the venue until the end of the event.

Outcome

Protesters justify their actions

Protesters asserted that because the speakers were unaffected by anti-abortion laws, they should not have had the platform to speculate about the morality of abortion. 

Sanya Desai, a sophomore, said she had protested “because I don’t think white men should be making decisions about my reproductive rights.” Desai added that she hoped the protest would “help people to realize that abortion rights are not something that are up for debate, or not something that should be talked about in a devil’s advocate type way.” 

Additionally, Planned Parenthood Generation Action told The Tufts Daily that while it had organized a peaceful protest outside of the venue, those who entered the venue and disrupted the event were not affiliated with their organization. 

Federalist Society laments disruption 

The Federalist Society members regretted the outcome of the protest. 

“As a non-partisan public policy and legal organization on campus, we are devoted to fostering respectful discourse and dialogue,” the organization told The Tufts Daily. “Unfortunately, some students seemed to disagree with our goals, and sought to disrupt our event . . .”

“We respect the right to peaceful protest,” Ribeiro said. “At the same time, we acknowledge that we’re at a liberal arts college and a big part of that is critical thinking, is to hear different ideas.”

James Kasparyan, a Federalist Society member who holds pro-abortion rights views, told The Tufts Daily that he believed the protesters misunderstood the intentions of the organization. “It’s really a discussion about [abortion rights] in general and to hear both sides.”

Sachs said that he had the right to discuss the issue of abortion despite being a white man. “It’s a great disservice to prevent others from taking part in that even in the course of hearing two other people debate,” he said. “I don’t think it matters whether the two of us are both men. I don’t think it matters whether the two of us are both white.” 

Ribeiro also stated that none of the female panelists they invited were available, and that the Federalist Society had reached out to groups from Tufts to join as well, including Planned Parenthood Generation Action. However, representatives of Planned Parenthood Generation Action said the invitation was sent to the incorrect individual. 

Tufts seems unlikely to discipline those responsible for shutting down event

Tufts has a policy that supports Free Speech titled the Declaration on Freedom of Expression at Tufts University. The document states that freedom of speech does not include the right “to threaten or obstruct a speaker who advances unwelcome ideas” 

Repeated efforts by the Free Speech Project to contact responsible officials at Tufts University and its student newspaper, to determine whether the protesting students had been disciplined, were unsuccessful.

As of Feb. 13, 2024, there were no further developments.