UPDATE (3:20 p.m. on Thursday, April 20): In a statement provided to WOWK 13 News, The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform said:

Abortion is an act of violence and our pictures demonstrate that.

Fletcher Armostrong, Southeast Director for the Center of Bio-Ethical Reform

UPDATE (8:44 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18): In a statement provided to WOWK 13 News, Marshall University said:

The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform staged a demonstration on Monday and Tuesday at Marshall University. The group followed all university guidelines for peaceful protest and provided the university with a letter outlining its activities. Students and others participated in a counter demonstration Tuesday afternoon and the university is reviewing the situation. In terms of language permitted or not permitted on campus, the university is committed to protecting the First Amendment and other rights of all persons on campus.  But, the university is sensitive to words which might incite, threaten, are considered “fighting words” or are obscene based upon applicable legal standards, and which may not be considered protected speech.

Marshall University

CABELL COUNTY, WV (WOWK) — Some Marshall University students could receive disciplinary action after protesting an anti-abortion display on campus, according to ACLU Investigative Reporter Kyle Vass.

The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform said in a press release that they brought their anti-abortion billboards, called the “Genocide Awareness Project,” to Marshall University to be displayed on April 17 and April 18. Because of this, counter-protesters gathered outside the display.

According to Vass, abortion-rights protesters were told they could not sit on the grass near the display because the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform had rented the land.

Vass said that Marshall University officers told counter-protesters that if they used the term “fascist” when referring to the anti-abortion advocates, they would be in trouble.

In a statement provided to WOWK 13 News, ACLU West Virginia said, “We are currently reviewing actions taken by Marshall University over the past two days. Any actions that may have limited the free speech of students is a potential concern for us, but no determinations have been made at this time.”

WOWK 13 News has reached out to the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform and Marshall University for comment. We will update this story when we hear back.