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Thousands of Pitt students sign petition against events considered anti-trans coming to campus

PITTSBURGH — A petition is circulating across the University of Pittsburgh campus with over 10,000 signatures demanding several events considered to be anti-trans be canceled.

“Their actions don’t match their words,” said senior Nicholas Demjan who started the petition.

The statement behind the thousands of signatures is simple. Demjan wants to see all three events considered anti-trans that are heading to campus to be canceled.

“When you have a man come and speak about the eradication of a specific group that is ultimately going to lead to violence against trans people on campus in Pittsburgh and around the country,” said Demjan.

Pitt also released a statement about the events. In part, they said:

“As a public university, we also uphold the principles of protected speech and expression and acknowledge that legally protected speech and expression can at times offend and marginalize some members of our community and contradict unwavering university values.”

The spokesperson went on to say the events are hosted by individual student organizations which are permitted to invite outside speakers to campus.

As the petition gains attention the group against the events plans to take it to the top administrators of the university for answers.

The goal for these students is to have the events canceled but if not, they do have a plan to protest outside the first event coming up on March 27.

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