Academia, Free Speech, Politics, Society

Georgetown Law Students Shutdown Acting Homeland Security Secretary Speech . . . Law School Silent On Any Action To Be Taken

We have previously discussed the trend of students and faculty preventing speakers from being heard on campus without any disciplinary action taken by universities. The latest example occur at Georgetown University Law School where students and faculty opposed an invitation of Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan to speak on campus. It was a wonderful opportunity for an exchange of views but both students and faculty wanted opposing views to be silenced. When the school went forward with the event, protesters immediately stopped the event. CREDO Action – the advocacy arm of the progressive nonprofit group CREDO — has admitted that Georgetown students participated in the action and videotapes clearly show those responsible. However, Georgetown would not commit to taking disciplinary action despite repeated inquiries.

These students claim the right to prevent other students from participating in classes or events — a similar complaint raised against the recent protests against James Comey at Howard University as well as schools like William & Mary.  For years, I have written about the loss of free speech protections and why universities must take action in such disruptions of classrooms like a recent incident at Northwestern University.  This violates a core defining value of our academic institutions and such students should be suspended for such conduct.  There is a difference between voicing your views and preventing others from speaking, particularly inside of a classroom. When you claim the right to prevent others from hearing opposing views or speakers, you are at odds with the academic mission of these universities.

This danger was evident when McAleenan was interrupted almost immediately after he rose to speak. Others in the room objected that they wanted to hear from him, but the protesters would not allow anyone to hear views that they disagreed with. McAleenan was eventually forced to leave. The department, which published the secretary’s prepared remarks, expressed regret that the students prevented a meaningful exchange.

I do not buy the convenient argument that silencing others is a form of free speech. I have previously discussed how Antifa and other college protesters are increasingly denouncing free speech and the foundations for liberal democracies. Some protesters reject classic liberalism and the belief in free speech as part of the oppression on campus.  The movement threatens both academic freedom and free speech — a threat that is growing due to the failure of administrators and faculty to remain true to core academic principles.  Dartmouth Professor Mark Bray, the author of a book entitled “Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook” is one of the chief enablers of these protesters. Bray speaks positively of the effort to supplant traditional views of free speech: “At the heart of the anti-fascist outlook is a rejection of the classical liberal phrase that says I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” He defines anti-fascists as “illiberal” who reject the notion that far right views deserve to “coexist” with opposing views.

The law school was fully aware of the planned protests. Indeed, some of its own faculty sought to prevent the opposing views to be heard by their colleagues and students. Georgetown tells students that free speech will be protected and that students “may not obstruct or otherwise interfere with the freedom of others to express views they reject or even loathe.” Well, these students ignored that principle and fragrantly violated free speech. What will the university now do about it?

51 thoughts on “Georgetown Law Students Shutdown Acting Homeland Security Secretary Speech . . . Law School Silent On Any Action To Be Taken”

  2. Professor Turley, if I’m not mistaken, you are a professor at Georgetown. Whether you like it or not, this reflects poorly on you. You can say that you had nothing to do with (blah, blah) or that you strongly oppose (blah, blah); but the fact remains that you are associated with, receive payments from, and promote your position with a university that supports the suppression of free speech. (“The failure to refute does not mean support”; blah, blah). Unless you do more to change Georgetown’s stance against free speech than this milquetoast critique, you, sir, are part of the problem.

    I have subscribed to your blog for years, and I’ve never been so disappointed (ashamed?) by you. Shame on you for reporting from the sidelines the crime within your own house.

      1. Talk about “dumb and dumber.” He or she might have looked it up before spewing… The dumbest?

  4. When you pay over $200,000 for your education at a private school, you hey to choose what kind of education you want. And Georgetown can run their school as they see fit. Comments from the peanut gallery don’t matter, unless of course you’re willing to pay for the right to be heard. Private v. Public.

    1. CREDO IS A COVER NAME FOR THIS ANTI FREE SPEECH PRESSURE GROUP

      http://www.workingassets.com/About.aspx

      call them and write them and tell them how they shouldn’t violate free speech of public officials

      Speak to a representative: 800-411-0848
      Payment Address: (they want money of course)
      CREDO Mobile
      P.O. Box 193895
      San Francisco, CA 94119-38955

      1. JANICE CRUMP is their grand poohbah

        C1188712 WORKING ASSETS FUNDING SERVICE, INC.

        Registration Date:11/25/1985
        Jurisdiction:CALIFORNIA
        Entity Type:DOMESTIC STOCK
        Status:ACTIVE
        Agent for Service of Process:JANICE CRUMP
        101 MARKET STREET, SUITE 700
        SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105

        SUE THEM FOR CONSPIRACY TO VIOLATE CIVIL RIGHTS

        https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/1985

        (1)Preventing officer from performing duties
        If two or more persons in any State or Territory conspire to prevent, by force, intimidation, or threat, any person from accepting or holding any office, trust, or place of confidence under the United States, or from discharging any duties thereof; or to induce by like means any officer of the United States to leave any State, district, or place, where his duties as an officer are required to be performed, or to injure him in his person or property on account of his lawful discharge of the duties of his office, or while engaged in the lawful discharge thereof, or to injure his property so as to molest, interrupt, hinder, or impede him in the discharge of his official duties;

          1. has the IRS investigated whether or not this company has reported all its “UNRELATED BUSINESS TAXABLE INCOME”

            TIME TO DUST OFF THE STATUTES AND STRIKE BACK AGAINST THESE AGENTS OF OLIGARCHY “NGOS”

            WHICH SHELL IS IT? THREE ENTITIES SAME ADDRESS.

            here’s 2 and 3

            https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/CBS/Detail

            C2172759 WORKING ASSETS ONLINE, INC.

            Registration Date:08/10/1999
            Jurisdiction:CALIFORNIA
            Entity Type:DOMESTIC STOCK
            Status:ACTIVE
            Agent for Service of Process:JEAN PARKER
            101 MARKET STREET, SUITE 700
            SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105

            C2566248 WORKING ASSETS, INC.

            Registration Date:11/03/2003
            Jurisdiction:DELAWARE
            Entity Type:FOREIGN STOCK
            Status:ACTIVE
            Agent for Service of Process:JANICE CRUMP
            101 MARKET STREET, SUITE 700
            SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105

  6. “CREDO Action – the advocacy arm of the progressive nonprofit group CREDO — has admitted that Georgetown students participated in the action and videotapes clearly show those responsible. However, Georgetown would not commit to taking disciplinary action despite repeated inquiries.”

    WILL LAW ENFORCEMENT FOLLOW THE LAW?

    GEORGETOWN TRUSTEES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPREHENSIBLE FAILURE TO PROVIDE FREE SPEECH SECURITY!

    https://www.georgetown.edu/about/board-of-directors

    William J. Doyle (C’72), Chair
    Northbrook, IL
    Former President & CEO, PotashCorp

    Sr. Carol Keehan, D.C., Vice Chair
    Washington, DC
    Retired President and Chief Executive Officer, Catholic Health Association of the United States

    Timothy J. O’Neill (L’77), Vice Chair
    New York, NY
    Global Co-Head, Investment Management Division, Goldman Sachs & Co.

    Fr. Daniel Villanueva, S.J. (GEMBA’15), Vice Chair
    Madrid, Spain
    Director General, Fundacióon Entreculturas

    Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani, Ph.D.
    Doha, Qatar
    Advisor, The Amiri Diwan

    Joseph P. Baratta (B’93)
    New York, NY
    Global Head of Private Equity, Blackstone

    W. Robert Berkley. Jr.
    Greenwich, CT
    President and CEO, W.R. Berkley Corporation

    Alberto L. Beeck
    Key Biscayne, FL
    Managing Partner, VH Properties; Director Virgin Hotels

    Bruce Blume (L’80)
    Seattle, WA
    Founder and CEO, Blume Company Real Estate

    George W. Casey, Jr. (F’70)
    Arlington, VA
    General, United States Army (Retired); President and CEO, The Minot Group LLC

    Peter J. Clare (B’87)
    Washington, DC
    Managing Director, The Carlyle Group

    Anthony R. Coscia (F’81)
    New Brunswick, NJ
    Partner, Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP

    Peter Croncota (B’83)
    New York, NY
    Chair, Georgetown University Board of Regents

    John J. DeGioia (C’79, G’95)
    Washington, DC
    President, Georgetown University

    Marijn E. Dekkers, Ph.D.
    London, United Kingdom
    Chairman, Unilever

    Suzanne O. Donohoe (C’92)
    New York, NY
    Member & Head of Client and Partner Group, KKR

    Mary Callahan Erdoes (C’89)
    New York, NY
    CEO, Asset & Wealth Management, J.P. Morgan

    Thomas W. Farley (C’97)
    New York, NY
    CEO, Far Point Acquisition Corp.

    Fr. John P. Fitzgibbons, S.J.
    Denver, CO
    President, Regis University

    Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D.
    Detroit, MI
    President, University of Detroit Mercy

    Amy Goldman (F’86)
    Minneapolis, MN
    CEO and Chair, GHR Foundation

    Bonnie W. Gwin (F’82, MSFS’83)
    New York, NY
    Vice Chairman & Co-Managing Partner of the Global CEO & Board Practice Heidrick & Struggles

    Richard Hluchan (F’71)
    Marlton, NJ
    President, Georgetown University Alumni Association
    Partner, Hyland Levin LLP

    Kathleen M. Hugin (C’82)
    Summit, NJ

    Tyree P. Jones, Jr. (L’86)
    Washington, DC
    Partner, Reed Smith LLP

    Susan Karches (C’74)
    Locust Valley, NY

    Laurie Hodges Lapeyre (B’83)
    New York, NY

    Frank H. McCourt, Jr. (C’75)
    New York, NY
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, McCourt Global LLC

    Dikembe Mutombo (C’91)
    Atlanta, GA
    President & CEO, Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, Inc.

    Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, S.J. (GEMBA’16)
    Nairobi, Kenya
    Principal, Hekima University College

    Claire Perry, Ph.D. (F’83)
    Redwood City, CA
    Independent Curator specializing in 19th Century American Art

    Michael Psaros (B’89)
    New York, NY
    Co-Founder and Co-Managing Director, KPS Capital Partners, LP

    Thomas A. Reynolds III (B’74)
    Chicago, IL
    Partner, Winston and Strawn LLP

    Kenneth A. Samet
    Columbia, MD
    President and Chief Executive Officer, MedStar Health Inc.

    Ann M. Sarnoff (B’83)
    New York, NY
    President, BBC Worldwide North America

    Fr. Antonino Spadaro, S.J
    Rome, Italy
    Editor in Chief, La Civiltà Cattolica

    Fernando Zobel de Ayala
    Makati City, Philippines
    President and COO, Ayala Corporation

    1. Interesting list of luminaries particularly Sr. Carol Keehan, D.C and Fr Antonio Spadaro SJ

      Love to be a fly on the wall at their meetings.

  8. Who controls the government?

    Is it the President? Congress? The Supreme Court? Or is it the bureaucrats, officials, and intelligence officers, who run the country behind the scenes, as presidents come and go? What about when they work in lockstep with the technology giants and media, who provide information to prospective voters? When the unelected class becomes politicized far Left, and brings activism to work, beware. Look at the constant leaks, undermining, and sabotage that has gone on for the past 2 1/2 years, because those who run the government were displeased with how the people voted, and have worked to get their own way.

  9. Leftism breeds tyranny. This is not the stuff of moderate Democrats. True Leftism does not tolerate dissent. It employs ad hominem, not reason. It discourages friendship across political lines. The opposition is the enemy, and it must be destroyed. It is their way by force. When they run government, they make that government powerful and the people weak.

    Imagine what it would be like if those who engage in this sort of behavior took control of Congress. Cancel culture on steroids.

  12. After they shut somebody’s first amendment rights down, they’ll want the tax payers to cover their college costs. The gall of these people is unending.

  13. More leftist tolerance for which they are well known and famous.

    The United States will have hate speech laws when this generation comes to power.

    antonio

  14. Also, I like Professor Turley, and I think he is a decent human being. But I think maybe some of this is chickens coming home to roost for him. And not just him, but other people I like, such as Camille Paglia. Both Turley and Paglia bemoan the current state of ignorance and intolerance among the college students, and even the faculty and administration. But weren’t both always seeking to push the boundaries of accepted behavior? Oh, queers want to get married? Well sure of course. That’s their right! Oh, women want to have abortions on demand? Why sure of course. That’s their right! Oh, the state wants to execute felons? Oh no! They have a right to live? Oh, some Mormon dude wants to have 10 wives? Well, sure of course. That’s their right. Oh, Little Johnny doesn’t want to say the Pledge of Allegiance? Well sure of course! That’s his right. Smedley wants to look at hard core porn! Well sure of course! That’s his right!

    You could on and on, but every time Turley and Paglia came up on any traditional societal restriction or societal action, they subjected it to a microscope and and deconstructed it down to the nano level, and then came up with new rights.

    Is it any wonder young people think that anything is OK if it makes them feel good? They both pushed the boundaries, and now that nearly all boundaries have fallen, they act surprised.

    Squeeky Fromm
    Girl Reporter

  15. “What will the university now do about it?”

    Oh, call on me! Call on me! I know the answer! (Hand waving madly in the air!”

    The answer is NOTHING. The school won’t do NOTHING! Because they approve of the students shutting this down.

    Squeeky Fromm
    Girl Reporter

    1. Squeeky – don’t shout out the right answer. Give the other students a chance. 😉

      1. You know Paul will be calling on me for the answer as I am sinking lower, and lower into my chair.

        Or you know, maybe, my chair will mysteriously go missing and I’ll have to go roam around the classrooms looking for one.

        Good thing I showed up early that day. I had a hunch…call is ESP. 😉

        1. Wally World – sometimes I would call on the students who were trying to melt into their seats. The purpose was not to embarrass them. It was too put them on notice that staying perfectly still did not make them invisible. I never graded class participation, only tests or papers/essays.

          1. Ah…I see. That’s kind of you to not add the class participation.

            I’m not usually a slide down in your seat type, but I became like that over 3 years after learning it from other students 1st semester.

            Peer pressure is real. Lol.

            Exception my research and writing professor. Blasted me the first day of class. And then I didn’t learn my lesson, so the second day of class. And then I learned my lesson. He called on me 1st time every single class for an entire 2 semester. And I was ready on third class onward.

            I have to thank him bc I learned a lot more than a lot of other classes from always being hard on me. I felt obligated/skin in the game.

            But ya know, it was 12 students…you can’t do that with 75 students.

            1. Wally World – if I had a class of 12 students the school would have closed.

              1. True, true…i guess that’s only for the select private schools with private funding.

              2. Paul-the seating charts, gotz 2 go…

                It’s a tort waiting to happen….law students pushing and shoving through the doors to slam backpacks down the the desk, other students throwing books to save seats.

                It’s a story injury waiting to happen….

                They should have rotating seating chart.

                In my hypo class, I would put everyone in alphabetical order for the first 4 weeks, then next 5 week, then next 5 weeks = 14 weeks.

                1st section: A through H
                2nd section I through Q
                3rd section: R through Z

                And then by rows: so everyone gets a chance to be in first 4 rows at some point in the semester, as well as the middle and the back area.

                And just tell them, you can sit whereever you want in your area. First come, first serve, every class meeting.

                  1. Oh, good. Seating charts are the worst. I like to move around. Get a different class view. 👍

      2. Any you know what…can’t stand those entitled you know whats eating their damn stinky food next to me in lecture.

        They should ban that…or there should be a policy that are allowed to elbow your neighbors food off the desk onto the ground….if it smells to nasty. 😁 whoops! Didn’t mean to do that…

        1. Always the typos…im not correcting, need to get the Grammarly since I don’t have a dictionary on my phone anymore…deleted somehow. I dunno.

        2. Wally World – never worked in a school where they allowed food in the classroom.

          1. Paul-food is classroom is very strange. Biggest shock to me after going to undergrad and then taking 5 years off and then coming back to grad school.

            I don’t every recall anyone having full blown meals in class.

            The worst was Indian food and fish. I was stuck next to a gal bringing fish. 🤢

            Please keep the fish out of the classroom, and any other super loud foods. Obnoxious.

              1. 👍as it should be…if you’re starving eat outside the room and come into class 10 minutes late. Don’t torture your neighbors with fish.

                1. Wally World – I must admit that while I was in high school in Montana in the winter, I would wear my parka to class and keep candy and soda (with a rubber tube up the arm) in the pockets. We did not have a lunch room and it was a mile home and a mile back for lunch.
                  Actually, I tried everything my students tried on me and more. 😉

  16. DHS has a virtual monopoly on the Public Square. Georgetown students and faculty are shining a bright and long overdo light on this fact.

    Until the GOP learns how to listen and participate in genuinely open fora (see: Mitch McConnell’s opportunistic rule over the Senate), kudos to them.

  17. http://eagleonetowanta.com HAS ALLOWED THE CHAIRMAN / SOLE PRINCIPAL AMBASSADOR LEO EMIL WANTA OF THE AmeriTrust Groupe, Inc. of Richmond, Virginia to PAY IN FULL ANY LAWFUL NATIONAL DEBT OBLIGATIONS, A VERIFIED STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAMME TO PAY STUDENT BANK LOANS BASED ON TYPE OF COLLEGE TRAINING AND GRADUATION STATUS ,,,, THANK FOR CARING FOR OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC _ AMERICA.

  18. Dr. T – Your article soft-pedals and avoids noting that these shutdowns are aided and abetted by the liberal left in academia and elsewhere. I mean really – your example was of James Comey.

    Here’s the truth that you aren’t able to acknowlege … liberals and the Left have started a campaign of suppression of free speech. The are unable to intellectually handle anything that takes them out of their tiny safe spaces. They have spent the last 2 and longer years suppressing free speech : Condi Rice, Jason Riley, John Yoo, Christina Sommers, Ben Shapiro, Jordan Peterson, Charles Murray, Heather McDonald, Ann Coulter, Robert Spenser, Betsy Devos, David Horowitz, tons of events arranged by College Republican clubs.

    Tell me one time college conservatives shut down speech or violently erupted damaging millions of dollars of property. Sorry – but the Left/Liberals/Democrats are responsible for this violation of constitutional rights and violent behavior. Tell the truth and don’t sugar coat the truth.

  19. Spoiled, misinformed brats coddled by spineless cowardly administrators. Any adult understands this.

    1. Okay. I don’t think the admins are spineless and cowardly. I do think they try to make their students as happy, safe, and comfortable, as possible,in the educational environment. So, that means, bending to the will of the students from time to time.

      I do think there are some who are spoiled, some who are misinformed, and def some brats, and some various combo platters.

      I feel like the youth, particularly those in school, are plugged in and brainwashed. Many saw that, Hogg, get famous as a SJW.

      Now, we have Thunberg, another puppet for the masses. I actually think she is being manipulative and abused by the adult around her, but that’s another story, mostly her parents, but moving on…

      Nonetheless, they’re all getting Play time, and the youth is taking note. How to be famous?

      Have a cause and a passion and the cameras will come to you, which = money, fame, attention, notoriety. And that’s way better than being Paul Logan.

      If you look at the core of what society via the TV and Internet viral videos, etc., is pushing on those in America, as well as other Western civilizations, it typically falls into 3 categories:

      Power, Wealth, and Fame

      And yes, these 3 things will lead to a more stable life, and a more affluent convenient lifestyle. This is what most ppl desire, but not necessarily make a person happy, that is.

      It just means that you’ve been programmed….

      …..programmed into the Rat Race from the formative years. Some never wake, some do.

      I’m going off on some tangents here.

      But I see this culture of moral superiority, a lot of finger pointing going on…and ppl lose their jobs bc of it….over unjustified….petty minutia.

      When did we become the finger pointing culture…???

      Is this part of the PC squeeze, or just any overall moral superiority complex that is plaguing the U.S. now, or at least those in the school settings with Young Millenials and Older Gen Z-ers.

      What happened to the old saying, “sticks and stones…?”

      Are they not teaching this anymore? Are they just teaching censorship via mob/bullying? Why does everyone act like a victim nowadays over again petty nonsense. Is it covert narcissim?

      In fact, I mentioned or alluded to this earlier somewhere….that the same folks who are screaming bloody murder over offensive commentary and being offended……are the SAME ppl throwing darts and spears from the window of the Safe Room.

      I say, come out of your safe space/safe room, bc you “can’t have your cake and eat it too.”

      It’s ppl who feel they can speak their mind whenever they want about whatever and you cannot be offended by them…..but one PERCEIVED minor slip up by you, and they are running off to the Safe Room.

      And less willing to listen too. Yep, it’s looking more and more like covert narcissism. Please be sure the throw a hand over your head and say, “I’m ready for my close up.” (Sunset Blvd.)

      In fact, a few times in my law school days, not too long ago, there were students offended by various professors and students ran off the tattle tale on the professor.

      I was propositioned to go to the admin office and snitch….i said, no thanks, bc I don’t believe in whining about professors, bc I’m anti PC culture.

      Man, oh, man….did I lose some friends….I was now the non-PC person. Deemed it. By others.

      Also deemed not a team player in snitch culture.

      If it was serious issue, then I might go, but it was like just some words, a joke. These students were blowing it out of proportion and making it a bigger deal than it was…and not sure what they were trying to gain…its like they didn’t have a motive….just to claim moral superiority. Get a doggie treat for being the best snitch in the school. Idk. I’m kidding, geez.

      And why would you want this old man to lose his job? Don’t get it!

      I really just didn’t want to get my 20th parking ticket….to be honest….im just kidding 😉 I would never get repeated parking tickets, that’s shameful.

      Another tangent here…always.

      Good Luck to all the folks working in the schools….stay safe!

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