Student Society Future Leader Removed Due to Conservative Activist Posts

Oxford Union debate
The activist and student leader took part in a discussion at the Oxford Union in May

The president-elect of the Oxford Union has been removed from his position after losing a no-confidence vote that followed his disputed social media posts about Charlie Kirk.

The vote against the student leader reached the necessary super-majority to remove him from office, according to an announcement from the organization.

Contentious Posts

The dispute erupted after the student reportedly posted messages on online platforms that seemed to welcome the killing of the American conservative figure, who was shot dead while speaking at a college in the United States.

According to reports, one social media message reportedly read "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an extended form of the phrase 'lol'.

The student leader is also reported to have written in a WhatsApp chat with fellow students seeming to welcome the incident.

Vote Outcome

The vote of confidence took place over the weekend, with outcomes announced on Tuesday.

Society announcements showed that 1,228 ballots were cast in favor of no confidence, while just over five hundred were against the motion.

The notice confirmed that the president-elect was considered to have resigned in accordance with the Oxford Union's rules.

Society notice
The Oxford Union announced the result of the confidence motion on this week

Procedural Disputes

Voting operations were informally suspended early on the previous day after the returning officer was allegedly subjected to "obstruction, intimidation, and unwarranted hostility" from multiple individuals.

In a response, the student asserted that the vote tally had been halted because election administrators believed "no legitimate and true result could be reached as a result of process errors".

His statement categorically refuted that any person appointed by George had engaged in intimidating or disruptive behavior.

Continuing Controversy

The president-elect maintained that extremely serious issues had been referred to the disciplinary committee and that he continued as president-elect.

His statement added that George was "grateful and honored to have the backing of significantly more than half of students at Oxford" who voted to have a "safe election and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".

Opponents have argued that any decision to keep him would "signal to the world that the Oxford Union has prioritized politics over principles".

Conservative activist
Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at a university in September

External Responses

On Friday, Mikey McCoy read out an public message to the Oxford Union on The Charlie Kirk Show broadcast.

The letter criticized the society of becoming a place where "presidents of the union openly applaud the killing of a political opponent".

The statement indicated that if Mr Abaraonye were to keep his position, supporters would "personally contact every U.S. political figure who has ever graced the union's chamber and urge them never again to lend their name".

The society had earlier criticized Mr Abaraonye's remarks after Kirk's death and stated that concerns filed against him had been forwarded for disciplinary proceedings.

The student leader had been one of several students to debate with the activist at the society in spring.

Jeanette Petty
Jeanette Petty

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