A Virginia college student appeared in court last week to face criminal charges after stalking a dedicated pro-life advocate and president of the Students for Life America (SFLA) chapter at Christopher Newport University, according to reports from Campus Reform.
The unsettling incident serves as a stark reminder of the daily adversities pro-lifers face as they work peacefully to raise awareness of the reality of abortion—the undeniable loss of innocent human life.
In April, Connor Land, a student at Christopher Newport University, was apprehended by police after gaining unauthorized access to Jenna Gibson’s room. Although Gibson was not present at the time, her roommate informed her that Land had falsely claimed to be a friend and arranged a meeting there. The disturbing fact that Land managed to locate her residence left her feeling profoundly unsafe.
While Land was initially released by the police, Gibson sought and obtained an emergency protective order against him, which Land swiftly violated. Shortly after his arrest, Land attempted to contact Gibson’s father via calls and text messages, leading to a warrant for his arrest that same night. On June 21, Land appeared in court for violating the protective order, a Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia. The outcome of the court hearing has not been made public.
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Earlier on the same day that Land had appeared in Gibson’s room, he was involved in an incident at a tabling event hosted by Students for Life. Initially, he made a $60 donation to the group, claiming it was in support of the pro-life cause. However, according to an officer from Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity to which Land belongs, he later admitted that the donation was not genuinely intended for the pro-life cause.
After making the donation, Land asked members of the group, including Gibson, to assist him in finding his misplaced car keys. The group members agreed and eventually located the keys in a remote location. Shortly afterward, Land activated his car alarm, fled the scene, and left his keys and phone behind.
In his conversation with the fraternity officer, Land mentioned that it was one of his tactics to garner Gibson’s attention, referring to it as a “snipe hunt,” though he did not provide further explanation. He said his intention was not to harass anyone, and he claimed to have told police that he was merely “paying for a friend experience.”
These incidents are not isolated occurrences, but rather part of a disconcerting trend unfolding on college campuses nationwide. In the wake of the landmark decision of Roe v. Wade being overturned, there has been a disturbing rise in acts of violence targeting pro-life advocates.
In March, Live Action News shared the chilling story of Lydia Taylor, the president of the SFLA group at Campbell University, who detailed in a blog post being subjected to physical attacks, receiving hate messages through social media platforms, and enduring hostile glares. Taylor recounted a particularly distressing incident where she was assaulted in a bathroom during a rally in Raleigh, forcefully pushed against a wall while enduring a barrage of profanities.
Despite the daunting nature of these events, pro-lifers refuse to be deterred. They persevere in their unwavering commitment to protect the lives of the preborn and bring attention to the sanctity of every human life.
