Student Society Future Leader Removed Due to Conservative Activist Posts
The president-elect of the prestigious debating society has been removed from his position after losing a no-confidence vote that came after his controversial online comments about Charlie Kirk.
The motion against George Abaraonye reached the necessary two-thirds threshold to oust him from his position, according to an statement from the organization.
Disputed Comments
The dispute began after Mr Abaraonye reportedly shared messages on online platforms that appeared to welcome the killing of the American conservative figure, who was shot dead while speaking at a university in Utah.
According to sources, one Instagram post reportedly stated "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an elongated version of the acronym for 'laughing out loud'.
The student leader is also said to have posted in a WhatsApp chat with fellow students appearing to express approval of the event.
Vote Outcome
The vote of confidence was conducted over the weekend, with outcomes announced on this week.
Official notices indicated that over twelve hundred votes were cast supporting no confidence, while just over five hundred were opposed the motion.
The notice stated that the future president was considered to have resigned in accordance with the Oxford Union's rules.
Procedural Disputes
Proceedings were temporarily halted early on the previous day after the election official was reportedly subjected to "obstruction, intimidation, and unwarranted hostility" from multiple individuals.
In a statement, Mr Abaraonye claimed that the count had been stopped because electoral officials believed "no valid outcome could be reached as a result of procedural failures".
His statement categorically refuted that any person acting for George had participated in threatening or obstructive conduct.
Ongoing Dispute
The student maintained that significant concerns had been referred to the governing body and that he remained president-elect.
His statement added that he was "grateful and honored to have the backing of well in excess of a majority of students at Oxford" who supported a "safe election and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".
Opponents have argued that any decision to keep him would "demonstrate internationally that the society has prioritized politics over principles".
External Reactions
On Friday, Mikey McCoy read out an public message to the society on The Charlie Kirk Show broadcast.
The letter criticized the union of becoming a institution where "presidents of the union openly applaud the killing of a political opponent".
The communication indicated that if the student were to keep his position, Kirk's allies would "directly reach out to every American political speaker who has ever spoken at the society and advise them against future participation".
The Oxford Union had earlier criticized Mr Abaraonye's comments after the activist's killing and confirmed that complaints filed against him had been forwarded for disciplinary proceedings.
The president-elect had been one of multiple members to discuss with the activist at the society in spring.