Student Society President-Elect Ousted Following Charlie Kirk Comments

Student society event
The activist and student leader took part in a debate at the Oxford Union in May

The future president of the prestigious debating society has been ousted from office after losing a vote of confidence that followed his disputed online comments about Charlie Kirk.

The motion against George Abaraonye reached the required super-majority to remove him from office, according to an announcement from the organization.

Disputed Comments

The dispute erupted after the student reportedly posted messages on social media that appeared to celebrate the killing of Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead while addressing a college in Utah.

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

The president-elect is also reported to have written in a messaging group with other members appearing to welcome the incident.

Vote Outcome

The vote of confidence took place over the recent days, with outcomes revealed on this week.

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

The notice confirmed that the future president was deemed to have stepped down in following the society's regulations.

Oxford Union announcement
The student society announced the result of the no-confidence vote on this week

Procedural Disputes

Voting operations were temporarily halted early on Monday after the election official was allegedly subjected to "obstruction, intimidation, and unwarranted hostility" from several representatives.

In a statement, the student asserted that the vote tally had been halted because election administrators believed "no valid outcome could be reached as a result of procedural failures".

His statement unequivocally denied that any representative acting for George had participated in threatening or obstructive conduct.

Ongoing Dispute

The student stated that extremely serious issues had been submitted to the disciplinary committee and that he continued as president-elect.

His comment added that George was "proud and thankful to have the support of well in excess of a majority of students at Oxford" who supported a "secure voting process and resist attempts to subvert democracy".

Opponents have argued that any failure to remove him would "signal to the world that the society has chosen ideology over integrity".

Conservative activist
The conservative activist was fatally shot while addressing a college in last month

External Responses

On Friday, Mikey McCoy presented an public message to the society on The Charlie Kirk Show podcast.

The message accused the union of becoming a institution where "student leaders openly applaud the killing of a political opponent".

The statement warned that if the student were to remain in post, supporters would "directly reach out to every U.S. political figure who has ever graced the union's chamber and urge them never again to lend their name".

The Oxford Union had previously criticized the student's remarks after the activist's killing and stated that complaints filed against him had been forwarded for disciplinary proceedings.

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

Cassandra Johnson
Cassandra Johnson

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