Student Society Future Leader Removed Due to Conservative Activist Posts
The president-elect 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 achieved the required super-majority to oust him from his position, according to an announcement from the organization.
Disputed Comments
The dispute erupted after Mr Abaraonye reportedly posted messages on online platforms that seemed to celebrate the death of Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead while addressing a college in Utah.
According to sources, one social media message reportedly stated "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an extended form of the phrase 'lol'.
The student leader is also reported to have posted in a WhatsApp chat with fellow students appearing to express approval of the event.
Vote Outcome
The vote of confidence took place over the weekend, with outcomes revealed on Tuesday.
Official notices showed that over twelve hundred votes were cast supporting no confidence, while just over five hundred were opposed the motion.
The announcement stated that the president-elect was considered to have stepped down in accordance with the society's regulations.
Election Controversies
Voting operations were informally suspended early on Monday after the election official was reportedly subjected to "interference, threats, and inappropriate behavior" from multiple individuals.
In a statement, Mr Abaraonye asserted that the vote tally had been halted because electoral officials believed "no legitimate and true result could be reached as a result of procedural failures".
His statement categorically refuted that any person acting for the student had engaged in threatening or obstructive conduct.
Ongoing Dispute
The president-elect maintained that significant concerns had been submitted to the disciplinary committee and that he remained the elected leader.
His statement added that he was "grateful and honored to have the support of well in excess of a majority of students at Oxford" 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 society has prioritized politics over principles".
External Reactions
On recently, Mikey McCoy read out an open letter to the Oxford Union on a related program broadcast.
The message accused the society of becoming a institution where "presidents of the union openly applaud the killing of a ideological rival".
The communication indicated that if the student were to remain in post, supporters would "personally contact every American political speaker who has ever graced the union's chamber and advise them against future participation".
The Oxford Union had earlier criticized the student's comments after the activist's killing and confirmed that concerns filed against him had been referred for official review.
The student leader had been one of multiple members to discuss with the activist at the union in spring.