The president-elect of the Oxford Union, George Abaraonye, will face disciplinary proceedings for making “inappropriate remarks” celebrating the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, the union announced on social media. Abaraonye, a student at the University of Oxford, posted comments in a WhatsApp group including “Charlie Kirk got shot, let’s fucking go” and “Charlie Kirk got shot loool,” according to the Telegraph.
The Oxford Union said on Saturday that Abaraonye had suffered racial abuse and threats since his comments were revealed. The union reiterated its condemnation of the remarks, stating they were his personal views and not those of the Union. It also strongly condemned the racial abuse and threats Abaraonye faced, calling threats to his life “abhorrent”.
The union defended free speech but said it “cannot and will not come at the expense of violence, intimidation, or hate”. It noted that it does not have executive powers to summarily dismiss a president-elect, but complaints have been forwarded for disciplinary proceedings to be addressed with “utmost seriousness”.
On Thursday, Abaraonye said he had “reacted impulsively” to the news of Kirk’s shooting and that the comments were “quickly deleted” after news of his death emerged. He said his reaction was shaped by Kirk’s own rhetoric, which he described as “horrific and dehumanising”. Kirk and Abaraonye had met during a debate on toxic masculinity in May.
Valerie Amos, master of University College, Oxford, said on Friday that no disciplinary action would be taken by the college, as Abaraonye’s comments did not contravene its policies on free speech or any other relevant policy.
