We, the undersigned demand for the reinstatement of Shaun Christie, expelled for opposing compulsory LGBTQA+, indoctrination on the campus of North West University. Shaun voiced his protest to the presentation, and walked out with hundreds of students following him out of the auditorium. 

The university asserts that his actions infringed on the free speech of the  LGBTQIA+ group in this mandatory induction.  On the contrary, opposing students maintain that the presentation imposed an offensive ideological standpoint that conflicts with their religious convictions. They believed it was academically irrelevant, and that they were deprived of the chance to talk about Jesus or the choice to decide whether or not to participate in the session of gender ideology.

South Africa is a constitutional democracy where freedom of expression is protected. The fact is that our country has a rich history of protest that led to our democratic dispensation. 

Shaun Christie has the right to freedom of expression and to stand up for his beliefs, and that of his fellow students.  He should not be punished for his boldness and courage to speak out! 

These rights of freedom of expression and/or belief are the tenets on which our constitution rests. Furthermore universities are supposed to be a fertile ground for diverse views and intellectual debate. 

And no person can or should forcefully impose or dogmatize their belief onto another. NWU cannot speak of disruption if their imposition on the rights of others is violating the conscience of students. 

Fragility of mind is the consequence of violation and of imposing views or stopping students from freely expressing themselves. This has a negative impact on students as born frees in a free country! 

ACDP calls for the immediate reinstatement of Shaun Christie and defends his right to freely express his beliefs. And we stand by all the students who exercised their democratic rights by walking out as a sign of protest at the administration using its power to impose others' beliefs on students. 

"It must come first because our right to speak freely is a prerequisite for our other freedoms and living in a free society. Without freedom of speech, there is no preacher in the pulpit and no defense at a trial. Without freedom of speech, we cannot cast our vote or call our representatives"- President Roosevelt.

We stand with Shaun Christie!