Six protesters were arrested at UNC Chapel Hill tonight near the end of a talk by former Congressman Virgil Goode.
Goode was on campus at the invitation of Youth for Western Civilization, the same student group that last week brought former Congressman Tom Tancredo to campus. Tancredo's planned talk on tuition benefits for illegal immigrants ended abruptly in the midst of a student protest subsequently condemned by university leaders.
Tonight, six people were charged with disorderly conduct, arrested at the end of about a 90-minute discussion at the campus student union. Goode spoke to about 150 people and took questions, according to a university news release.
Some students attempted to disrupt the event from the start, jeering and heckling and setting off personal body alarms that had to be located and turned off by police, according to the news release.
The crowd was warned, and police removed protesters one or two at a time as behavior escalated, according to the university statement.
There was no violence or vandalism, it said.
UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp issued the following statement:
"The speaker tonight was able to express his views and have a give-and-take with his audience. I regret that six protesters had to be arrested, but they gave us no choice. They ignored our warnings, and their disruptive behavior was completely at odds with what we expect at Carolina. I want everyone to know that these six people do not represent what Carolina stands for when it comes to freedom of expression."
Comments
Expell the Arrested Protestos...........
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 05:01 — vraptorHey erksie-pooh & holden my d???? Kinda kills your little hate speech tribunal when conservatives cannot talk at UNC.... Release the names of the arrested........... If they are not expelled, no m $$$$ for UNC.......
I guess hate speech and terrorism against conservatives is OK..
Be careful. We control the money and have the guns...........
to fournaught
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 02:02 — ftp12345I will put $500 that you truly have no reasonably idea as to want these men actually are speaking to and that you only have hear say or no nothing expect that it is concerning immigration. Being against using tax dollars to fund the extremely expensive cost of education at a public university to those who are not legal citizens who may or may not pay federal/state taxes does not equal bigotry. It equals a point of view opposite of yours. Being in America does not simply give you access to some of the privileges of being an American (by either natural birth or visa, etc...). Go and listen openly and have a dialog with those who have positions against your own view. What you will find may amaze you...that conservatives are people to that have opinions about the way to do things on a federal vs state level with tax dollars. Having those opinions about the way in which to spend those monies does not mean you have ill feelings against a segment of a productive society.
But then again, who's the one calling names and who was the one open to dialog tonight and was willing to speak to those who had a different opinion.....
Kudos to the protesters for
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 00:45 — fournaughtKudos to the protesters for standing up to professional bigots like Goode and Tancredo.
Use Good Judgment
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 08:04 — KWCoronaThe problem I had is they made a non-event into front page news. They have the public now sympathizing with YWC and they don't have the first clue what their agenda is. The beauty of freedom of speech is that there is no right to be heard. The Tancredo event was in a classroom...The Goode event had to be moved to a bigger venue. Why? Publicity! The protesters have given these people more cheap publicity than they would have ever generated by simple word of mouth alone.
Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience
Mr. Wilkinson
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 01:06 — WilkinsonNow I've always told my kids, "If you have a passion for something then stand up for it." I think that protesting is a good experience for kids as long as they don't damage or hurt anyone. I never expected my kids to stand for the same things I believe, and they never disappointed me because fathers and children never quite see eye to eye on much, but I am proud of every little thing they did to make a difference and to make the world a better place they can believe in.
Just one old man's opinion.
beat them? these are our
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 00:37 — be45834beat them? these are our children. people, they may not care for the speakers or the organizers, but they did nothing to deserve beating or exile. this is a civilized society. the disruptions, especially the alarms, are not worthy, but violence is not called for.
Good for the Chancellor
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 00:37 — KWCoronaI am glad to see that "minorities" at UNC have the right to speak also. That said, it sounds like the "Youth for Western Civilization" has the natives pretty restless on the Hill. My personal belief is the YWC are addressing legitimate problems. However, a responsible doctor would not treat a sprained ankle by amputating a leg. That said, I welcome anyone who comes to the arena of ideas with civility.
Yes, they obviously hate
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 00:27 — jugbandYes, they obviously hate America, so Let's send them to Cuba. ZOMG FREESPEECH!!1! etc.
UNC Protesters
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 00:00 — LetsGoPittIf these protesters hate America so much, why not just send them to Cuba??? Please?
seriously?
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 00:30 — redburn"If these protesters hate America so much" -- that what, they get caught exercising their right to voice dissent? We have a first amendment for a reason: so that grievances can be publicly aired without fear of government reprisal. In words you can understand, "talk about problem good! payback bad!"
If you hate America so much that you don't respect the very ideas upon which it was founded, why don't YOU move away?
UNC evolutionary rejects
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 23:15 — PercyKutionShould have just drug 'em outside and beat their eyes shut and it wouldn't happen again. I mean beat 'em about the head seriously. Do some damage. Won't have to do it but once.