Recently, at the University of Minnesota, I stepped to the podium ready to share the truth about abortion and the humanity of every preborn child. Before I could begin, a group of pro-abortion protesters burst into the room, shouting, waving signs, and chanting slogans so loudly that the event had to stop. For nearly 10 minutes, they took turns delivering emotional statements, turning what was meant to be a conversation into chaos.
I’ve faced protests before. What struck me this time wasn’t the volume, but the visible pain behind the anger. I could have met their anger with a similar vigor, but instead faced it with love. Why? Because sharing the truth with love makes all the difference.
These students weren’t just repeating talking points about “healthcare” and “freedom.” They were voicing narratives they’ve heard repeated on campus and in the culture relentlessly: that abortion is empowering, that opposition to it is hateful, and that the preborn child in the womb is less than human. Beneath the intensity, I sensed real hurt that is too often dismissed or caricatured.
This moment crystallized what I’ve witnessed again and again on college campuses over my time working with colleges this past year: students are not being given the full picture. They’re immersed in one perspective, shaped by slogans rather than science, emotions rather than facts. They hear about bodily autonomy but rarely about the developing human heart that begins beating at six weeks. They’re told abortion is a right, but not shown the reality of what it does to a living child.
That’s precisely why Live Action’s work on campuses is so vital. We don’t show up to shout down or “own” the other side. Our mission isn’t to win an argument in the heat of disruption. It’s to reach hearts and minds with truth and love. We present the humanity of the preborn child through ultrasound imagery, scientific facts, and personal stories of women who have experienced abortion’s aftermath. We create a space for genuine dialogue where students can wrestle with reality.
After the protesters eventually left, one young woman lingered for a moment. I looked at her and said simply, “We care about you, and we’d love to talk if you ever want to.” She paused. Then she walked back to her group. That small exchange reminded me why we persist. Even amid confrontation, there are cracks in the armor where truth and kindness can slip through.
The students who disrupt our events are not the enemy. They are young people shaped by a culture that has hidden the truth from them for decades. Many carry their own stories of pressure, fear, or loss. Behind every chant is a person searching for meaning, often burdened by things we cannot see. Our job is not to meet their anger with more anger, but to offer them something better: the reality that every human life, from conception onward, has inherent dignity and worth.
Campuses today are echo chambers on abortion. One narrative dominates classrooms, student groups, and administrative policies. Live Action and its growing network of campus chapters refuse to accept this status quo. We keep showing up with evidence, with compassion, and with the conviction that no one should be denied the chance to encounter the truth.
This work is slow. It’s rarely dramatic.
But those quiet moments when a student pauses, listens, and maybe asks a question make it all worthwhile. That’s how minds change. And that’s why we will continue bringing the full, unfiltered truth about abortion to campuses across the country, one conversation at a time.
Avanelle Mitchell works at Live Action as a Campus Coordinator and was sponsored by the Leadership Institute to speak. If you’re interested in starting or joining a Live Action Campus Chapter, visit https://www.liveaction.org/students.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the authors and do not represent an official position of Alpha News.
Avanelle Mitchell
Avanelle Mitchell works at Live Action as a Campus Coordinator.
