Student Society Future Leader Ousted Following Conservative Activist Comments

Oxford Union debate
The activist and student leader participated in a discussion at the student society in spring

The future president of the prestigious debating society has been removed from his position after failing a vote of confidence that followed his controversial online comments about the conservative activist.

The motion against George Abaraonye reached the necessary two-thirds threshold to remove him from office, according to an statement from the organization.

Contentious Posts

The controversy erupted after the student reportedly shared messages on online platforms that seemed to welcome the killing of Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot while addressing a college in the United States.

According to sources, one social media message reportedly stated "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an extended form of the acronym for 'laughing out loud'.

The president-elect is also said to have posted in a messaging group with other members appearing to express approval of the event.

Vote Outcome

The vote of confidence was conducted over the weekend, with outcomes announced on this week.

Society announcements showed that over twelve hundred votes were cast in favor of removal, while just over five hundred were against the motion.

The announcement confirmed that the future president was deemed to have resigned in following the society's regulations.

Society notice
The Oxford Union announced the outcome of the confidence motion on Tuesday morning

Election Controversies

Voting operations were temporarily halted early on the previous day after the returning officer was reportedly subjected to "obstruction, intimidation, and unwarranted hostility" from several representatives.

In a response, the student claimed that the count had been halted because electoral officials believed "no valid outcome could be reached as a result of process errors".

His statement unequivocally denied that any person appointed by George had engaged in intimidating or disruptive behavior.

Ongoing Dispute

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

His comment added that he was "grateful and honored to have the backing of well in excess of a majority of university members" who supported a "safe election and resist attempts to subvert democracy".

Opponents have said that any decision to keep him would "signal to the world that the society has chosen ideology over integrity".

Charlie Kirk speaking
Charlie Kirk was shot dead while addressing a university in September

External Responses

On Friday, Mikey McCoy read out an open letter to the society on The Charlie Kirk Show broadcast.

The letter accused the union of becoming a place where "student leaders openly applaud the assassination of a ideological rival".

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

The society had previously criticized the student's comments after Kirk's death and confirmed that complaints filed against him had been referred for official review.

The student leader had been one of several students to debate with Kirk at the society in May.

Brian Walker
Brian Walker

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