UW audience was intolerant

The speaker was a woman. Her future child may be a woman, and the organizers of the event were women, yet the women in attendance would not grant them personhood – defined by the right to be heard.

The behavior of a May 3 audience at an event to bring speaker Abbey Johnson to Seattle’s University of Washington campus sponsored by the Students for Life of America and the Catholic Newman Center illustrated severe intolerance within the UW-Seattle community.

Our second daughter, who is a current student at UW, worked with a team of brave students to organize this event.

Yesterday, our fourth daughter chose UW over Georgetown University. If there is no room for true dialogue at UW, I fear she may have been poorly advised in her choice, and may be thwarted in her effort to secure a true education.

Those in attendance were not allowed their right to hear the speaker by those who believe their own convictions about women’s rights give them authority to drown out any opposing voice.

Ruth Wagley

Spokane