Oxford Union Future Leader Removed Due to Conservative Activist Posts
The future president of the Oxford Union has been removed from his position after failing a vote of confidence that followed his controversial online comments about the conservative activist.
The vote against George Abaraonye reached the required super-majority to remove him from office, according to an announcement from the organization.
Disputed Comments
The controversy erupted after Mr Abaraonye reportedly posted messages on social media that seemed to welcome the killing of the American conservative figure, who was shot dead while speaking at a university in Utah.
According to sources, one Instagram post reportedly stated "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an elongated version of the acronym for 'laughing out loud'.
The president-elect is also said to have posted in a messaging group with fellow students seeming to express approval of the event.
Election Results
The no-confidence motion took place over the weekend, with results announced on Tuesday.
Official notices showed that over twelve hundred votes were cast supporting no confidence, while 501 were against the motion.
The announcement stated that the future president was deemed to have resigned in following the society's regulations.
Procedural Disputes
Proceedings were temporarily halted early on Monday after the returning officer was reportedly subjected to "obstruction, intimidation, and unwarranted hostility" from several representatives.
In a statement, Mr Abaraonye asserted that the vote tally had been halted because election administrators believed "no valid outcome could be reached as a result of process errors".
His response unequivocally denied that any person acting for the student had participated in threatening or obstructive conduct.
Ongoing Dispute
The president-elect maintained that significant concerns had been referred to the disciplinary committee and that he continued as president-elect.
His comment added that he was "proud and thankful to have the backing of significantly more than half of university members" who voted to have a "safe election and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".
Opponents have argued that any failure to remove him would "signal to the world that the society has prioritized politics over principles".
External Reactions
On Friday, Mikey McCoy presented an open letter to the society on a related program broadcast.
The message criticized the union of becoming a place where "student leaders openly applaud the assassination of a ideological rival".
The statement warned that if Mr Abaraonye were to remain in post, supporters would "directly reach out to every American political speaker who has ever spoken at the society and advise them against future participation".
The society had previously condemned Mr Abaraonye's comments after Kirk's death and stated that complaints filed against him had been forwarded for disciplinary proceedings.
The student leader had been one of multiple members to discuss with the activist at the society in spring.