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US: Medical students walk out of ceremony in protest against anti-abortion teacher

Dozens of medical students at the University of Michigan (USA) walked out of a college ceremony on Sunday (24) in protest against a speaker with anti-abortion views.

When Dr. Kristin Collier, assistant professor of internal medicine at the university, began her speech at the traditional “Galcoat Ceremony”, dozens of students stood up abruptly and left the auditorium, a video shared on social media shows (see below). Some audience members also left the venue.

Ahead of the event, at which new medical students receive their first medical gowns, some students petitioned the school to replace Collier with another speaker, citing their anti-abortion views.

“While we support the rights of free speech and religion, an ‘anti-choice’ speaker representing the University of Michigan undermines the University’s stance on abortion and supports the theologically-rooted platform to restrict access to abortion, an essential part of the medical care,” reads the petition.

Medical student Elliott Brannon, who helped organize the petition, told CNN that more than 300 medical students signed the document. The actions were mainly organized by new students with the support of veterans, Brannon said.

“This is not simply a disagreement of personal opinion,” the petition read. “Through our demand, we are standing in solidarity with groups that are trying to take away human rights and restrict medical care.”

Collier, who also directs the medical school’s program on health, spirituality and religion, has expressed anti-abortion views, including in a May 4 tweet.

“To hold on to a vision of feminism where we fight for the rights of all women and girls, especially the most vulnerable. I cannot help but regret the violence directed at my sisters in the act of abortion, done in the name of autonomy,” she wrote, later adding: “Liberation that costs innocent lives is only redistributed oppression.”

The university told CNN that Collier was chosen to be the keynote speaker by members of the medical school’s Gold Humanism Honor Society. In a statement, the institution defended the decision to keep her as a speaker at the event.

“The White Coat Ceremony is not a platform for discussion of controversial issues,” the statement said. “Its focus will always be on welcoming students into the medical profession. Dr. Collier never planned to address a divisive topic as part of her observations. However, the University of Michigan does not revoke an invitation to a speaker based on her personal beliefs.”

The institution also reiterated that its reproductive care still includes abortion.

“The University of Michigan and Michigan Medicine remain committed to providing safe, high-quality reproductive care for patients for all of their reproductive health needs. This includes abortion assistance,” the statement said.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, abortion is still legal in Michigan. Although the state banned abortion in 1931, the restriction is temporarily blocked by a state court.

THE CNN contacted Collier for comment but received no response.

Collier said during the ceremony that she was honored to be chosen to speak. Before giving a speech to new students about surviving and thriving in the medical field, she seemed to acknowledge the controversy.

“I want to acknowledge the deep wounds that our community has suffered in recent weeks,” said the teacher. “We have a lot of work to do for healing to take place and I hope that for today, this time around, we can focus on what matters most, coming together to support our newly accepted students and their families with the goal of welcoming them to one of greatest vocations that exist on this earth – the vocation of medicine”.



Source: CNN Brasil

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