Protesters screaming ‘Nazi’ shut down Virginia anti-abortion campus lecture

Protesters disrupted a lecture by Kristan Hawkins, the president of Students for Life of America, at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). The event was disrupted by a protest that turned violent after protesters, seen in videos chanting “Fascists, go home” and “Nazis, go home,” interrupted the event.

The disruption resulted in several members of VCU’s Students for Life chapter being injured. Natalie Hoskins III, 22, was charged with simple assault while Anthony Marvin, 30, was charged with disorderly conduct for disrupting the event. Both were arrested by VCU police.

The disruption and violence have been blamed on antifa by Students for Life in a series of blog posts following the event. Both Hoskins and Marvin are Richmond natives with no affiliation to VCU, according to the university.

Hawkins had private security with her at the event who escorted her out of the lecture hall after the event turned violent. Autumn Walser, President of Students for Life at VCU, and Kevin Feliciano, a documentarian employed by Students for Life, both sustained minor injuries.

VCU spokesperson Michael Porters said in a statement that the university was “disappointed” that the event was disrupted and committed to promoting a safe environment for all.

This is the latest in a series of disruptions of conservative speakers, such as Kyle Duncan, a judge on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, whose lecture was interrupted by students and an administrator at Stanford Law School last month.