Oxford Union Future Leader Ousted Following Conservative Activist Posts
The future president of the prestigious debating society has been ousted from office after losing a no-confidence vote that followed his disputed online comments about Charlie Kirk.
The motion against George Abaraonye achieved the necessary super-majority to oust him from his position, according to an announcement from the society.
Disputed Comments
The controversy began after Mr Abaraonye reportedly posted messages on online platforms that appeared to celebrate the killing of Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead while addressing a university in Utah.
According to sources, one social media message reportedly stated "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an elongated version of the phrase 'lol'.
The student leader is also said to have written in a messaging group with fellow students appearing to welcome the incident.
Vote Outcome
The no-confidence motion took place over the recent days, with outcomes announced on Tuesday.
Official notices showed that 1,228 ballots were cast in favor of removal, while just over five hundred were against the motion.
The notice stated that the president-elect was considered to have resigned in following the Oxford Union's rules.
Procedural Disputes
Proceedings were informally suspended early on Monday after the returning officer was reportedly subjected to "interference, threats, and inappropriate behavior" from multiple individuals.
In a statement, the student asserted that the count had been stopped because election administrators believed "no legitimate and true result could be reached as a result of procedural failures".
His response unequivocally denied that any person acting for the student had engaged in threatening or obstructive conduct.
Continuing Controversy
The student stated that significant concerns had been submitted to the disciplinary committee and that he continued as president-elect.
His comment added that George was "grateful and honored to have the support of significantly more than half of university members" who supported a "secure voting process and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".
Critics have said that any failure to remove him would "signal to the world that the Oxford Union has chosen ideology over integrity".
External Responses
On recently, Mikey McCoy read out an public message to the Oxford Union on a related program podcast.
The letter criticized the union of becoming a institution where "student leaders openly applaud the killing of a ideological rival".
The statement warned that if the student were to keep his position, supporters would "directly reach out to every U.S. political figure who has ever graced the union's chamber and urge them never again to lend their name".
The society had earlier condemned the student's remarks after Kirk's death and stated that concerns submitted about him had been referred for official review.
The student leader had been one of several students to discuss with Kirk at the society in May.