 | By Jonathan Hoffman
April 2, 2010 | Share |
11 Muslim students were arrested on February 8 at UC Irvine, California after attempting to shout down a speech by Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren. The student government at UC Irvine then passed legislation which condemned the administration for "excessive punishment" of the Muslim students. If boorish behavior is allowed to prevail during lectures, the freedom to speak and the freedom to listen are violated.
Jewish students decided they could no longer sit in silence while the Muslim Student Union continues to advocate antisemitism through their speakers and events, and promote efforts to suppress the free speech of those who disagree with them. In response to the legislation passed by the student government, 35 Jewish and pro-Israel students spoke out at a student government meeting in order to demand that the student leaders join them in putting an end to hate speech, loutish behavior and antisemitism on campus.
This link is to a video where the 35 students appealed to the UC Irvine student government.
