I am writing in response to the anti-abortion advertisement in
Westwood Plaza on May 12. I would like to address UCLA by saying
that this was a display of offensive and doctored pictures.
The whole question of abortion and choice is very controversial
and frightening in our society, but the scarier aspect is: How did
these advertisements get OK’d by UCLA to be displayed in
Westwood Plaza for two whole days? How much money does it take for
UCLA to fall to its knees and allow this repulsive and dishonest
display of extremist propaganda?
In a time and place where it is virtuously impossible to post a
flier, write with chalk on building walls, hang up a poster in an
academic department without authorization, or get written consent
by the UCLA dormitories to post fliers in lobbies, how did this
display get erected in plain eye’s view of the hundreds of
people who adorn UCLA’s campus every day?
Visitors under the consent age of 18 saw this display. They
should have been shielded from the realities of our adult world
before they are old enough to understand problematic concepts like
abortion.
As I walked to school that morning, I found myself, along with
30 6-year-olds from a local elementary school, staring up at this
disgusting display. While I, as a 22-year-old woman, am able to
look at the pictures and understand and/or choose to address or
reject the issue before my eyes, a pre-pubescent child, who is not
able to make these distinctions, is left confused, frightened and
with questions.
The reality is that children should be shielded from this sort
of religious or political moral debate. These children are not old
enough to face these problems. Shouldn’t UCLA take part in
helping to preserve the innocence of our children?
We have to ask ourselves this question: When will UCLA draw the
line with offensive advertising on campus? If the Klu Klux Klan
came in and wanted to have a display in Westwood Plaza, would UCLA
allow it?
Using the KKK is an extreme example, but I do consider people
traveling around the country with this display in order to preach
anti-abortion choice policies very extreme.
In a world where some women are still persecuted, one would like
to think that this sort of atrocity would be rejected by UCLA. The
only people this display is hurting are the hundreds of women on
campus who have been unlucky enough to experience first hand the
pains of having an abortion. This display leaves these women marked
indefinitely by their legal and moral choice to take part in having
an abortion.
We need to end this persecution of women by celebrating our
choice and rejecting the patriarchal system that loves to keep
women trapped in misogynistic boxes.
Shame on UCLA for allowing this on our campus.
Diebel is a fourth-year anthropology student.