Apr 14 2009
Leftist Activists Disrupt Tancredo Speech at UNC
Tom Tancredo’s speech at UNC tonight was disrupted multiple times and from what I understand may have never even began. Several immature children who are students at the university ran up to the front of the room when Tancredo entered and held up a banner and began chanting over and over not allowing him to speak. A police officer eventually removed them and then several members of the audience began getting belligerent and shouting profanities at Tancredo. Ironically, they did all of this under the guise of free speech, claiming it was their First Amendment right to continue preventing Tancredo from speaking. Evidently free speech to them is only important when it’s speech they agree with and Tancredo’s First Amendment rights don’t matter. Don’t be surprised by this, however. Incidents like these go on all the time at college campuses. Bear in mind these are children who are there on their parents’ dimes and who have never lived a day in the real world in their entire sheltered lives.
“Bear in mind these are children who are there on their parents’ dimes and who have never lived a day in the real world in their entire sheltered lives.”
Forgive me for saying so, Bane, but many of the “immature students” you refer to are poor, working-class youths who rent in Carrboro and who rely on federal aid and work-study for their tuition. The supporters of Tancredo, on the other hand, were almost entirely visitors from off-campus–some of them were supporters from right-wing special interest groups like the Pope Foundation. I suspect that your judgment is grounded on a stereotype about college students rather than on information about who was actually there. Am I correct?
Dear Mr. Windlow,
I was present at the “speech” and actually saw what occurred, were you? Nevertheless, these “children” you referred to are actually educated and hard-working students who were accepted to UNC-CH because of their intellectual awareness. Yet, I do enjoy how you left out that some student protesters were sprayed with mace although none of the methods of opposition up to that point were violent. The mace used even before a window was broken. Do you think it’s right that students should be maced directly in their faces because they are protesting? Especially when doing so through non-violent means? Furthermore, there were educators of the University who were also present who opposed Tancredo’s presence. Are they children who have never worked in their lives as well? If you have ever lived a day in the life of a professor then perhaps you could mature a bit more. Lastly, I would like to point out your gross and completely unfounded generalization of the student body that was present. I and many others there that I know personally are certainly not “on their parents’ dimes.” My parents have never paid for any of my college tuition. Likewise, many of us do live everyday in the “real world.” I have worked throughout high school and college to pay for medical needs and college expenses. I have worked at several jobs that do not require even a high school graduate’s education. I have paid my own bills for several years; I pay my rent, utilities, and food and every other expense. I have been without college before as well and do know what it’s like to have to provide for myself without the shelter that college provides. And yet, many of the students present also have similar backgrounds, many of them having had several volunteer opportunities that expose them to poverty-stricken areas where people always live in the “real world.” What’s your background? I am guessing you are white, upper-middle class but who knows. I am not as willing to judge and generalize as you are. Maybe it’s you who needs to grow up and stop assuming things before you know the facts.
Not in the least bit sincere,
Ashleigh
“What’s your background? I am guessing you are white, upper-middle class but who knows. I am not as willing to judge and generalize as you are.”
Anyone else notice a clear display of judgment and generalization in the first sentence, and the invocation of the “tolerant leftist” statement in the next?
Spoken like a true “intellectually aware student/non-violent activist/working class hero.” Bravo, Ashleigh!
It’s quite obvious that the “students” were there more to spout what they knew, or thought they knew, rather than politely listen to another point of view. Might they be afraid they would learn something? Part of “growing up” is learning to tolerate, at least for the length of a speech, what another says. Otherwise, why participate in the forum of discussion? All these students were able to accomplish is to make themselves look childish and foolish. Protest has it’s place but civility and manners have their place too. Besides, what can one learn when their mouth is flapping?
What an embarrassment for UNC- these kids need a course from Ms. Manners. I always thought highly of UNC but no more. Frankly, I think young people would be better off going to trade school. Education these days is a farce. I love Mr. Tancredo - he sees what is happening to America - and these little kids proved his point. God forgive America.
Disrespect…
Pure and simple disrespect coupled with immaturity is what I saw in that video.
No, I wasn’t there; I’m not a student (or staff); I’m a white, middle of the road kind of guy.
The children (as in the students & staff behaving immaturely and disrepectfully) demand respect for themselves when they want to express their thoughts and positions. But, Heaven help the person on the other side that is trying to express their thoughts and positions.
One suggestion to you kids…grow up.
Barb, I’m not sure if the protesters would disagree with you on the purpose of education or on the value of listening to others’ point of view, even of the far-right. (I certainly don’t disagree with you, and I’m also about as opposed to Tancredo’s policies as anyone could be.) What they found objectionable–or rather, what some of them found objectionable (I can’t speak for all of them)–was (i) that the University paid a political extremist to advance his views on campus, and (ii) the particular sort of extremism he advances is dangerous for the community. If you were in the triangle area three and a half years ago, you may remember the beating of a homosexual man in Carrboro by homophobic right-wing youths, as well as the racial slurs spray-painted on the walls of NC State and in the Duke Tunnel four months ago. According to the FBI’s 2006 report on hate crimes, such acts have risen by twelve percent, and last year’s report confirms a continued rise in such violence. When the protesters chanted, “no dialogue with hate,” I believe what they meant was that Tancredo’s presence was perceived as a threat to the safety of the community, not that they were unwilling to listen to arguments in favor of his ideas. I doubt you’ll agree with me when I say so, but it’s understandable for students who fear hate-related violence to oppose the event. (If indeed you don’t agree, then I’d like to know what you think about the YWC, who use this exact line of reasoning to ban felonious hip-hop musicians from performing on campus.) I hope I’ve charitably represented your position in responding to it.
It’s amazing to me that these “children” are so disrespectful and are totally lacking in manners.
First off, the only information they can possibly have about Representative Tancredo is the garbage put out by the media or the bias of their education system.
Representative Tancredo is a believer in the United States Constitution and the rule of law.
These students could better use their time, listening to both sides of an issue before they start spouting hate.
Representative Tancredo is an honest and good man and I’m proud to say that he was my congressman.
Dear Larry,
The idea behind my statement regarding Mr. Windlow’s race and income status was to illustrate how generalizations are nothing more than assumptions. I was demonstrating that is just as easy for me to make assumptions about him as he does about me.
Tancredo’s presence was not wanted and UNC students made it know. I am not supporting the idea that Tancredo not be allowed to speak; I wanted to hear him. But I do support the opposition to his ideas. I would request that all of you who were not happy with the occurrence resist the temptation to generalize about the students there. Some wanted to hear him, some didn’t, and some simply wanted him gone. Do not assume that every single student that was in that room is in the same camp. Likewise, Mr. Windlow should not assume that every student present is living off of his/her parents and has never lived a day in the real world.
I’ve read some of these comments and I dont really think some of the issues were addressed. I drove all the way from another university to hear what the Congressman had to say and was hoping for a dialogue between the two sides on the issue. Instead, what happened was an uproar of chants, singing, and slurs to silence the congressman from ever being able to start his speech.
The Congressman acknowledged their right to free speech, and even said, “You have the right to say what you want to say, but I also have the right to say what I want to say. Carrying on the way you are wont get your point across.” Holding signs and silently standing in protest is one thing…holding the signs in front of his face and shouting over him is quite another. These protesters need to take a lesson in etiquette.
The speech was also paid for by a non-profit organization that had no affiliation with the school–if the protesters would have shut their mouths and opened their ears they would have heard that part. For a group of people that protested on tolerence and free speech they certainly only limited those categories to the people they wanted to hear from. I’m also curious to know how many of these highly intelligent students there against Congressman Tancredo did research on him before hand or just blindly accepted the advertisement on the anti-Tancredo flyers. I.m really tired of hearing nothing but “racist” or “facist” as an argument against someone on the Right.
I’m highly disappointed in the way the students treated Congressman Tancredo and I hope he’s brought back in the future so he can actually do his speech. I also hope the schol takes action against the students who broke the window.
Thank you, Amanda, for correcting me on the funding. This is clearly a source of confusion, but not, I think, one that completely invalidates the concerns of the student body for the community’s safety:
http://www.carrborocitizen.com/main/2008/01/02/as-hate-crimes-rise-nc-must-act/
I thought we were discussing the event in this forum..what I read in that article dealt with gay hate speech. While that was a sad human interest piece, it has nothing to do with what Congressman Tancredo was coming to speak on or the intended event. He was coming to speak on not allowing in-state tuition to illegals. I understand you want to have a dialogue about hate speech, but there’s a time and place. Here’s a thought, why don’t you/an organization you belong to bring a speaker of your own that gets your point across? I think had he been allowed to speak, y’all would have realized he is not spouting hate speech and YWC is not a hate group, they just have differing opinions. (I did hear hate speech at the event, but it came from the protesters who were, ironically, there against hate speech that I didnt really see from the speaker)
If you’re referring to the safety of the students, guests and faculty at the event–1) Some of the protesters put other students at risk by throwing a projectile at the window. It’s a blessing that the screens were down so no one was seriously injured. Don’t you think that was taking it way too far? 2) The policemen’s actions with regards to the protesters are under review, but I think under the circumstances they reacted the best way they knew how. Those students were relentless and not about to “go quietly” and I heard the uproar it brought from the others outside the room when they were escorted out. You cant expect those kinds of actions not to have some sort of reaction along with them.
All of this is reminiscent of the cultural and social decay we saw in the 1970’s, and which I remember, but these students do not remember, and therefore are doomed to relive it. Off the radar liberalism in those days included throwing eggs at returning veterans who had risked their lives in service to their country under the most horrid imaginable circumstances. Instead of Harry Reid, we had Walter Cronkite telling us it was an unwinable war. Same shit, different decade. Even bell bottoms and big collared shirts have made a resurgence, both of which I thought were a fashion mistake. These students are well intentioned kids, but they have been seriously mislead about history. But again, looking at history, many of them, if they grow up, will grow up to be good Republicans.
The student disrupters are brain washed. It would never occur to them that there could be another point of view or points of view. They lack critical thinking skills. They are afraid to compete in the arena of ideas. Rather than shouting down and protesting Tancredo, why not just listen to what he had to say? They have already made up their minds. Their minds are closed. They are myopic. To these disrupters, any idea that is opposed to theirs is hate speech. These are very dangerous people. They are the future censors. They are the future dictators.
Ashleigh, my “generalizations” are not about all of the students, but specifically those two ding bat broads who ran up front with their banner singing and chanting and their friends who sat in the audience yelling obscenities. I don’t have to know them to form a supposition on them that I’d bet my life savings is quite accurate. I’m quite familiar with their kind as I am a graduate student myself and have witnessed this Stalinist behavior all too frequently.
As a libertarian I am a strong defender of the First Amendment, but with free speech comes a responsibility. Those children did not exercise that right responsibly, but rather abused it. The appropriate thing for them to do would have been to have their protest outside or sit respectfully through Tancredo’s commentary and then ask questions challenging his positions.
This kind of behavior is far too common across college campuses in this country. They are supposed to be institutions of critical thinking, higher education, and a free expression of ideas, but as I pointed out, those ideas only seem to be acceptable if leftist extremists approve of it.
This sort of thing is disgusting. This behavior on the part of the students is immature and reprehensible, not to mention unAmerican. They may not like what Mr. Tancredo had to say- but he has a right to say it, and others have a right to listen. Silencing people you disagree with is more along the lines of Mao’s youth movement- the Red Guards. And if as one poster suggested, these youth are getting their money to do this from grants and work-study, then maybe the taxpayers should pull the plug on that. I see no reason why the public dime should support such uncivic behavior.
There are two primary reasons to shout down a political opponent rather than engage in a debate of ideas.
1. You know you can’t win the debate on merit.
2. You’re afraid if others hear your opponent’s argument that they will see that you are wrong.
And as someone who has spent 25 years on a college faculty, just because someone has a ph.d. does mean they are mature.
Sadly I have discovered that many people end up on university faculties because, despite their intelligence, they never reached a level of maturity sufficient to maintain employment in other professional areas.
# Andrew Ookyon 14 Apr 2009 at 9:39 pm
“Bear in mind these are children who are there on their parents’ dimes and who have never lived a day in the real world in their entire sheltered lives.”
Forgive me for saying so, Bane, but many of the “immature students” you refer to are poor, working-class youths who rent in Carrboro and who rely on federal aid and work-study for their tuition.
Thanks for pointing out that Andy OOky–The fact that many of these “poor” Carrboro dweller “students” are on the taxpayer subsidized dime of student aid as opposed to being snot nosed bourgeois brats makes their conduct all the more egregious. And when one considers that a few of the protesters come from nuclear families with immigration status issues, it aggravates this scenario to the max.
Bane, I applaud your arguments. Unlike Ashleigh, I am here on my parent’s dime–the same dime that taught me the value of respect and courtesy. I have never lived in the real world and have lived a very sheltered life, but I would NEVER take part in the atrocious events my fellow students engaged in Tuesday evening. I am horribly embarrassed to be associated with a student body that has individuals that would condone that behavior in any way (yeah, that’s you, Ashleigh). Whether you have lived a privileged life or had to work for every last opportunity, there is no excuse for being disrespectful, interrupting others, or making slanderous comments towards others, regardless of their beliefs and views. For everyone, like me, who feels disgust at this whole event, do not fret: these individuals will never amount to anything in life without the indispensable quality of respect and the ability to listen to opposing ideas. Also, for those of you who are not part of the university community, I assure you we are not all like those represented Tuesday evening.
As a parent of a student at UNC, we received this email from
the chancellor today.
I want to express how disappointed I am in what happened last night when former Congressman Tom Tancredo wasn’t able to speak when a protest got out of hand, and our Department of Public Safety had to take action.
Congressman Tancredo felt threatened and left without making his remarks.
Mr. Tancredo was scheduled to speak about immigration. We expect protests about controversial subjects at Carolina. That’s part of our culture. But we also pride ourselves on being a place where all points of view can be expressed and heard. There’s a way to protest that respects free speech and allows people with opposing views to be heard.
Here that’s often meant that groups protesting a speaker have displayed signs or banners, silently expressing their opinions while the speaker had his or her say. That didn’t happen last night.
On behalf of our University community, I called Mr. Tancredo today to apologize for how he was treated. In addition, our Department of Public Safety is investigating this incident. They will pursue criminal charges if any are warranted. Our Division of Student Affairs is also investigating student involvement in the protest. If that investigation determines sufficient evidence, participating students could face Honor Court proceedings.
Carolina’s tradition of free speech is a fundamental part of what has made this place special for more than 200 years. Let’s recommit ourselves to that ideal.
Sincerely,
Holden Thorp
This email is sponsored by: Office of the Chancellor
I hope they make all the children/professors write apology letters to Mr. Tancredo. Enough said…
It’s obvious from these kinds of stunts that liberals have no respect for the concept of civil society.
The UNC-Chapel Hill DPS was caught between a rock and a hard place last Tuesday night. Why do I say that?
University staff, professors, etc… were at this event. They were in the room. Rather than exercise leadership skills, they encouraged an escalation of chaos in Room 103, some by their silence, others by cheering on the protesters.
The burden of maintaining control was on the UNC leadership. I feel confident that had the UNC professors and staff at this event reached out to Lt. Twiddy and UNC DPS for assistance in establishing an acceptable decorum in the room, they would have done so.
But that didn’t happen, and the campus police only stepped in to intervene when things go out of hand, and were bordering on chaos.
While I totally agree that the protesters generally had no clue what they were protesting about Congressman Tancredo, the university staff failed grossly in being responsible stewards of higher-learning and tolerance.
The professors and staff dropped the ball. They failed the students, the parents, and law enforcement that was there to protect everyone on both sides.
Congressman Tancredo supports the Constitution, and the rule of law. He handled himself in a professional manner, even while at the brunt of vicious attacks on his character and intentions.
The same can not be said for the university staff, and certainly not of the professors egging on the protesters.
Over a ten day period, UNC went from being NCAA National Champions to a national embarrassment.
The FIRE Coalition held a Town Hall Meeting the night before Tuesday’s event at Winthrop Coliseum in Rock Hill, at which Congressman Tancredo sat on a panel with people on both sides of the issues. WRHI.com broadcast the event live. It was civil, respectable, and dignified.
Less than 24 hours later in North Carolina, protesters, with the assistance of university professors and free-speech hijackers, embarrassed ALL North Carolinians.
Should charges be filed? Should heads roll. You bet. UNC Chancellor Thorp is doing damage-control now but where was his leadership in instructing professors and students about peaceful opposition and protest protocols before this event?
Why were there no ‘rules of engagement’ established that would let everybody know what kind of behavior is acceptable on a state-funded university campus?
The problems at UNC go far deeper than simply disrespectful, vulgar, and rude protesters. The leadership is lacking, all the way to the top.
What is Chancellor Thorp’s policy on the Constitution and the laws written from it? Does the UNC school system support insurrection against the Bill of Rights? Do they support undermining the rule of law? This taxpayer-funded university is supposed to be developing tomorrows leaders. It is supposed to be teaching them how to “think,” not just drink koolaid and spew vulgarities at those they disagree with.
Those of you that were there witnessed “peaceful assembly” get hijacked by radical leftwing extremists, many of whom are paid by your tax dollars to educate YOUR children!
As a North Carolinian I am at once outraged and embarrassed. Carolina prides itself for many of its accomplishments, but it should ashamed that a small university in South Carolina has more class and character than a major university.
Jeff, I am a graduate student at Winthrop and I have never witnessed this kind of reprehensible behavior there like that of UNC.
I’m sorry I was not aware of your town hall here or I would have attended.
you are right on Bane.am ex-Noo Yawka who lived in Tancredo’s district in Littleton,Co.holden thorp is another spineless,gutless candy ass mary.maybe he can the chief school color blue for UNC changed to Brown and have swastikas sewn on them.we had a young Denver cop shot in the back and died because yet another illegal mexican who should not be here was here,caused a commotion at Salon Ocampo,a mexican night club.The liberals at Denver post tried to spin that case and tina griego the whining Mexican-american liberal goes on her rant.folks don’t understand tom.the same crap is going on at Duke,Colorado College,C.U. in peoples republic of Boulder,think Ward Churchill,Rutgers,Syracuse,UVA in C-ville.these fascists are intolerant,addle brained bigots who need their diapers changed.look at all the laws that Mexico has regarding immigration and print those online.maybe the right thing to do is fire thorp’s ass out of C.H and prosecute the brain dead who broke that window.liberals may not think of themselves as intolerant fascists but in the main they really are.thanks for letting me use this space.
Would those cheering the actions of students who prevented Mr Tancredo from speaking have the same response if it was Pres Obama who had been shouted down and insulted?
Intolerance has no place in progressive ideology. In choosing to ’shout a person down’ rather than engage in debate, these students have adopted the close minded attitudes that marked supporters of the previous administration.
On behalf of those who still advocate freedom of expression for all people, I apologize to Mr Tancredo for the actions of these students.
Simon,
Please display facts here on any occassion where Republicans shouted down liberals in the same way those immature students did at North Carolina.
[...] http://www.carolinapoliticsonline.com/2009/04/14/leftist-activists-disrupt-tancredo-speech-at-unc/ [...]