Controversial American conservative activist Charlie Kirk appeared at the Oxford Union on Tuesday afternoon, speaking on issues ranging from abortion to the influence of Red Pill media.
A small gathering of protestors from Oxford Stand Up to Racism (OSUTR) gathered on St Michael’s Street to oppose the event, telling Cherwell: “We’ve got to stand up to them and we’re here to say you don’t debate with hate. You stand up and you speak out.” When asked about the protest, Kirk told Cherwell: “They have a right to do that. Well, I hope they have a right to do that.”
During the event, Kirk was asked about his views on transgender rights, claiming that “there’s something sick and awful about chopping off a 14-year-old’s breasts,” whilst also describing JK Rowling as a “hero”. On the influence of figures such as Andrew Tate, Kirk said: “the men of the West have been infantilised for too long”. When discussing Adolescence – the Netflix series which provoked discussion about Red Pill media – he described it as “complete fiction” which was a “mythology like Lord of the Rings”.
Responding to questions about Adriana Smith, a brain-dead, pregnant US woman who is currently being kept alive under state abortion law until the birth of her baby, Kirk said: “Her parting gift to the world will be another life […] that’s beautiful.” As part of a wider discussion about abortion later in the talk, Kirk said: “We aim to abolish abortion the same way we abolished slavery in the 1860s […] one is arguably worse.”
Project 2025 – a right-wing plan to reform the US government – was another topic of discussion. Kirk praised the initiative, telling the audience that it was “going great”, which led to laughter amongst some. However, Kirk admitted: “I haven’t even read it all.”
Speaking to Cherwell, OSUTR said: “We don’t want to platform people whose ideology is so islamophobic, so antisemitic, and we think that the Union instead of inviting him here should kick him out on the street and boot him back over the Atlantic.”
Commenting after the event, Kirk told Cherwell: “Much better than Cambridge. Very respectful, very thoughtful – A-Plus experience.”
Kirk is also set to participate in this evening’s debate, “This House Believes Trump has gone too far”. He is known for having founded Turning Point USA, an organisation that endeavours to promote conservative politics on the campuses of high schools, colleges, and universities.
The Oxford Union has been contacted for comment.
