The Oxford Union president is set to face big consequences after texting about Charlie Kirk’s death and posting about it online.
Kirk, who was well known to have been Donald Trump’s ally, was shot at a campus event in Utah on Wednesday (10 September).
The political influencer attended Utah Valley University to debate with 3,000 students about a range of topics.
He was in the middle of discussing transgender shooters in the US when a single shot rang out, and he fell backwards.
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The bullet appeared to have struck his neck, and while he was rushed to hospital, Trump announced he had died shortly afterwards.
Taking to Truth Social, the US president announced the 31-year-old's death, writing: "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead.
"No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.
"He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us."
Kirk’s death has fuelled a range of different responses online.
Some who disagreed with Kirk’s political views celebrated, while others mourned.
But Oxford Union President George Abraronye’s texts have put him in hot water.
After his texts and Instagram post came to light, the debating society released a statement on Saturday (13 September) condemning his words.
It shared that the issue will be treated with ‘the utmost seriousness’ and he will be subject to disciplinary proceedings.
While the Oxford Union cannot dismiss a president-elect at will, its disciplinary policy allows any officeholder who has committed serious misconduct to face penalties that can include an immediate dismissal.
Abaraonye, who was elected to the role earlier this year, has faced 200 votes of no-confidence.
That is 50 more than what is required to bring about the proceedings.
Those who voted were life members, who are former Oxford University students that paid to retain their membership.
Allum Bokhari, an Oxford Union life member and managing director of the Foundation for Freedom Online, a US censorship watchdog, told The Telegraph that the decision to lead the campaign against Abaraonye was to cut down censorship.
He said: “The most final act of censorship is a bullet.
“Celebrating the assassination of Charlie Kirk, whose only crime was talking to his ideological opponents, is completely antithetical to every moral and democratic principle the Oxford Union Society represents, not least free speech and the freedom to exchange ideas without the threat of violence.”
It was revealed on Wednesday evening that the president-elect had sent texts after Kirk had been shot.
One text he sent to a group chat read: “Charlie Kirk got shot, let’s f****** go.”
Another message on Instagram allegedly read: “Charlie Kirk got shot loool.”
While Abaraonye has deleted the comments, the Oxford Union said it ‘has always been one of the world’s foremost defenders of free speech’ and: “We will continue to defend freedom of expression in all its forms. But free speech cannot and will not come at the expense of violence, intimidation, or hate.”
All complaints against Abaraonye ‘have been forwarded for disciplinary proceedings and will be addressed with the utmost seriousness’
It added: “Our duty is to demonstrate, to our members, the university community, alumni, and the wider public, that disagreement must be expressed through debate and dialogue, not through abuse or threats.”
The Union went on to say that those are Abaraonye’s ‘personal views and not those of the Union, nor do they represent the values of our institution'.
However, in light of his comments, Abaraonye has allegedly been subjected to racial remarks and threats.
To this, the Union said: “No individual should ever be attacked because of the colour of their skin or the community they come from. Threats to his life are abhorrent. Such rhetoric has no place online, or anywhere in society.”
Topics: Charlie Kirk, US News, UK News, Social Media, Politics
Britt Jones