Kristan Hawkins

Last updated
Kristan Hawkins
Born (1985-12-05) December 5, 1985 (age 39)
Wellsburg, West Virginia, U.S.
Education Bethany College (BA)
TitlePresident of Students for Life of America (SFLA)
Political party Republican
Website https://kristanhawkins.com/

Kristan Hawkins (born December 5, 1985) [1] is an American anti-abortion activist who is the president of Students for Life of America (SFLA). [2]

Contents

Biography

Kristan Hawkins was born in 1985 in Wellsburg, West Virginia. [1] [3] She was involved in her church community in Wellsburg, later meeting her husband. [3]

At age 15, Hawkins began volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center in Steubenville, Ohio. [3] During her orientation at the center, she watched the anti-abortion film The Silent Scream . After volunteering at the center, she founded Teens for Life and joined the National Right to Life Committee and her local Republican chapter. [4]

She graduated with a B.A. in political science from Bethany College in West Virginia. [5] While in college, she worked for the Republican National Committee to reelect President George W. Bush, and for a year, she worked in Bush's administration. [6]

In 2006, Hawkins became president of Students for Life of America (SFLA). [1] Under her leadership, SFLA has grown to more than 1,400 campus groups in 50 states from 180 campuses.

Current events

On June 25, 2022, Hawkins went on CNN with Pamela Brown to discuss abortion laws after Roe v. Wade was overruled . [7]

In October 2022, Hawkins took legal action after two Yale students, posing as anti-abortion activists, interviewed her and presented an award as part of a satirical video. The students created a satirical video about conservatism at Yale, which led Hawkins's legal team to issue a cease-and-desist order. [8]

The "Make Abortion Illegal Again Tour" brought her to the University of Cincinnati, where she spoke at Tangeman University Center (TUC) on October 4, 2022. UC students arranged the event, and UC Young Democratic Socialists of America (UC YDSA) organized a counter-protest outside while Hawkins spoke. Hawkins stated during the event that she believes "we no longer live in a country where abortion is an uncontested norm." [9]

Hawkins and co-host Isabel Brown, a conservative commentator with Turning Point USA, were invited to speak at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) by Students for Life VCU. At the speaking venue, Hawkins and Brown were shouted at by protestors during their speech. Police requested Hawkins to leave the room following protests. She and other attendees were moved to a secure location, where they continued their discussion. [10] [ better source needed ]

Hawkins held an event, "Lies Pro Choicers Believe," at the University of New Hampshire with Isabel Brown on April 18, 2023, in the Memorial Union Building. The event coincided with a 'Choice & Cupcakes' event held in the same building. It was postponed following concerns about balancing university policies on student events. [11]

In an interview by the host of NPR's “All Things Considered,” Ari Shapiro, Hawkins stated criticism over abortion rights. Hawkins argued issues over doctors giving abortions when the mother's life is at stake. She states the only time it is acceptable is an ectopic pregnancy. In that case, she states that it is acceptable to abort the pregnancy since it would not survive outside of the mother. When asked about children in poverty and Republican actions, Hawkins focused on medical exceptions for abortion, such as ectopic pregnancies. [12]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Graham, Ruth (2022-07-03). "'The Pro-Life Generation': Young Women Fight Against Abortion Rights". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  2. ↑ Fox & Friends (1 April 2023). "Extremists are 'worried' about the pro-life movement". Fox News. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Thompson, Krissah (2023-05-17). "Two young women drive pro-life movement's revival". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  4. ↑ "She helped kill Roe v Wade - now she wants to end abortion in America". BBC News. 2023-06-21. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  5. ↑ Salai, Sean (20 January 2016). "Q&A with Students for Life president Kristan Hawkins". America Magazine. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  6. ↑ Godfrey, Elaine (19 April 2023). "The New Pro-life Movement Has a Plan to End Abortion". The Atlantic. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  7. ↑ "Pamela Brown challenges anti-abortion activist". CNN. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  8. ↑ Wollen, Miranda (9 November 2022). "Yale spoofers threatened with legal action by Students for Life America". Yale Daily News. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  9. ↑ Pope, Zurie (6 October 2022). "Anti-abortion activist speaks to UC community". News Record. The News Record. TNR. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  10. ↑ Tietz, Kendall (3 April 2023). "Pro-life leader fumes at Virginia university after violent left-wing protest: 'Knew they could create chaos'". Fox News. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  11. ↑ Fisher, Damien (13 April 2023). "UNH Pulls Planned 'Counter Programming' to Students for Life Event". NH Journal. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  12. ↑ Shapiro, Ari (June 27, 2022). "The future of the anti-abortion-rights movement". No. All Things Considered. NPR. npr.org. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
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