A group of students at the University of Southern Maine (USM), who recently established a local branch of a pro-life organization, reported receiving a threatening message on social media. The threat referenced Charlie Kirk, a conservative figure who has been assassinated.
“[T]hese Charlie Kirk enthusiasts gotta be careful don’t they know what happened to the guy,” the Yik Yak post, lacking punctuation, ominously stated.
The message was shared on Yik Yak, an app popular among college students for its anonymity.
A screenshot captured from Yik Yak targeted pro-life students at the University of Southern Maine in late November 2025. (Image acquired by Fox News Digital)
In recent developments, students at USM initiated a chapter of Students for Life, a nationwide organization with a pro-life agenda, under the name Huskies4Life. According to the chapter’s leaders, the backlash began even before the group was formally established.
Matthew Gozzi, who oversees campus formation in the northeast for Students for Life, mentioned that the USM chapter remains resolute despite the anonymous social media animosity and two demonstrations held against their formation on campus.
“We knew that now more than ever, you have to speak out, and you have to be authentic about who you are and your values, and that we weren’t going to back down if any of this stuff happened,” he told Fox News Digital.
He said that when the club petitioned the student senate to be officially recognized, the protests began. Opponents began taking photos of the chapter members during tabling events, and reported them to the school to try to have them removed, according to Gozzi. Two protests against them broke out.
“I think that they believe that there is no opposition to their ideas and that they don’t realize how regular conservative values are,” Gozzi said. “I also think that they’ve been told through media, through politicians, through everything, that anything that disagrees with their views constitutes violence and naturally, you know, you should fight violence with violence.”
University of Southern Maine students and staff protest the war in Gaza. (Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)
USM junior Jadyn Carrigan captured the screenshot of the Yik Yak post referencing Kirk.
“I think that, you know, every person has the right to exercise their, their free speech, and that’s exactly what myself and my club members are here to do,” she told Fox News Digital. “We’re not here with any malicious intent. We’re not here really even to argue. We’re here to have respectful dialogue, and that’s the whole beauty of democracy is hearing both sides of the spectrum, whatever that is.”
“I think myself, as well as my other club members, are doing the best we can to not fight hate with hate, but show everyone the respect that they deserve, regardless of their opinion,” she said.
Abby Patenaude is also a member of Huskies4Life.
She sent Fox News Digital screenshots of a trove of social media posts targeting the group.
“[W]ishing rabies upon your families,” a comment on the group’s Instagram says.
“Pro life isn’t pro woman,” said another comment, which added two emojis.
Similar comments riddled another Instagram post.
University of Southern Maine students at the tail end of the processional pause to look for familiar faces in the crowd during the 138th commencement ceremony at the Cross Insurance Arena on May 12, 2018. (Ben McCanna/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)
“How is this a real club? Embarrassing! Petition to get rid of this stupid club,” said a comment.
[P]ro choice is the only choice babe!! [J]ust say you hate women and move on,” said another.
“I think it’s really telling, like, the difference between us and them,” Patenaude told Fox News Digital. “And, like, I hate to use that division, but, they hate me for thinking differently, and we continue to respect and love them regardless.“
“We’re encouraging respectful dialogue, and we’re here to save babies, we’re here to support moms, and we’re here to create a culture of life on and off the campus, and hopefully all around Southern Maine and this is just how we have to do that,” she said.
USM confirmed to Fox News Digital that it is aware of the posts.
“USM is aware that the student group and its faculty advisor have recently been the subject of threatening social media posts, most of them on an anonymous app,” she said. “That app is not owned or controlled by the University.”
“USM’s Department of Public Safety and Office of Student Engagement and Belonging are engaging with the student club to offer support and resources, and the student members have also reported these posts via the app,” the statement continued.
Students who founded a chapter of a pro-life organization at the University of Southern Maine say they were targeted with social media threats. (KAREN BLEIER/AFP via Getty Images)
Gozzi noted that he was pleased with how the school has handled the situation.
The statement continues, explaining that if any students behind the threatening or harassing posts are identified, they will be subject to the University of Maine System’s Student Code of Conduct review process, and that campus police also engage when threatening or harassing posts are made.
“USM encourages free inquiry and welcomes respectful discussions among those with differing viewpoints,” the school said, noting that its free speech policy aligns with the First Amendment.
“There shall be no restriction at any System institutions on these fundamental rights, although the University may prohibit speech that violates the law, defames specific individuals, genuinely threatens or harasses others, or violates privacy or confidentiality requirements or interests,” the school policy says.
Kristan Hawkins, the president of Students for Life of America, reprimanded the anonymous poster for invoking Kirk’s name.
“As someone who is still mourning the assassination of my friend, Charlie Kirk, I’m horrified that Students for Life students in Maine had to deal with that kind of social media bullying,” Hawkins said. “But the courageous response of our student leaders and their willingness to stand up for mothers and their children — born and preborn — shows why we are winning.”
“Abortion is the human rights atrocity facing the Pro-Life Generation, and we are not going to stay silent, though we will take all the precautions needed to protect those committed to loving them both.”
