Oxford Union votes to oust president-elect over Charlie Kirk comments

The Oxford Union voted on Saturday to remove its president-elect, George Abaraonye, after members backed a motion of no confidence over online comments that appeared to celebrate the fatal shooting of U.S. activist Charlie Kirk. The ballot, open to members attending in person and to alumni voting by proxy, produced 1,228 votes in favor out of 1,746 cast, exceeding the two-thirds and 150-vote thresholds required for the motion to pass, the society said on Tuesday.

The vote followed publication of messages attributed to Abaraonye in which he appeared to celebrate Kirk's killing. Kirk, 31, was shot and killed last month at an event at Utah Valley University in what authorities described as a political assassination. He was founder and chief executive of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA. Abaraonye was reported to have written in a WhatsApp group, "Charlie Kirk got shot, lets f go," and to have posted on Instagram, "Charlie Kirk got shot loool." He had debated Kirk at an Oxford Union event earlier this year.

The Oxford Union said complaints against Abaraonye were forwarded for disciplinary proceedings and that it condemned both his remarks and the racial abuse...