UCLA is facing a new free speech controversy after its Director of Race and Equity, Jonathan Perkins, tweeted that he (like many) hoped Justice Clarence Thomas would die rather than recover from his recent illness. UCLA recently disciplined a student for controversial statements, but has stood by the right of Perkins to express such hateful viewpoints. Ironically, Perkins’ office has long posted anti-free speech positions to justify censorship and speech codes.
Perkins is a lawyer (with a J.D. from the University of Virginia) and previously worked in the General Counsel’s office of Harvard University.
When news spread of the hospitalization of Thomas, Perkins declared “No one wants to openly admit [we all] hope Clarence Thomas dies. Whatever you need to tell yourselves.” He further referred to objections to wishing death upon others as “silly” while adding a racist attack: “Uncle Thomas is a sexist token who’s committed himself to making us all share in he and his treasonous wife’s misery.”
It was a mild statement to be sure but I still support the right of Perkins and other faculty and students in being able to speak freely on social media. This was a personal viewpoint expressed outside of the school.
However, that was not the approach taken by UCLA in other controversies. Last year, UCLA athlete Chris Weiland was dismissed from the cross country and track & field team after video of him making racist, sexist and homophobic comments appeared on social media. The comments were overheard as Weiland spoke with his mother.
Avery Anderson, UCLA’s Director of Track and Field and Cross Country reinstated Weiland after a suspension, but then protests led to his dismissal.
UCLA’s Black Student-Athletes Alliance issued a statement that:
“UCLA knew about an incident of blatant racism, homophobia and sexism and did very minimal actions about it. … We do not feel safe with this person on campus, and we demand UCLA athletics take action immediately and remove this student from the team.”
Anderson responded to this and other objections by reversing her decision:
“It became clear that his continued involvement with the team is incompatible with the culture of mutual support and respect we’re fostering. I now realize that the decision to reinstate him was not the right decision, and that the action today is best for the well-being of our team.”
UCLA professors have also been subject to investigations and protests over their private speech or class policies that were denounced as racist. One professor is currently suing UCLA.
There are no such protests or actions taken over the hateful and racist comments of Perkins.
37 employees ( at the least) in UCLA’s office of Equity, diversity and inclusion!
And we wonder why college tuition keeps rising.
DEI, EDI etc has become a business
This is obviously a fake news report by JT. We all know Twitter would not allow hate speech on its platform.
Why do you assume that Twitter didn’t delete it as hate speech?
Well let’s face it. Jonathan Perkins is an affirmative-action recipient of an Ivy League law degree, but like most AA beneficiaries, couldn’t cut it as a lawyer so he’s working as the “Director of Race and Equity” at a public university. He’s a man-child who lacks the backbone to leave the security of life on the government plantation and that’s why he’s jealous of Justice Thomas.
Myth #1: Truth Always Prevails in the Marketplace of Ideas
Myth #2: Freedom-of-Speech is Everything
Myth #3: Only the Left (or Right) Hates Free Speech
Myth #4: Censorship is a One-Way Street
Turley: “Many hold such views of the “myths of free speech” but this is a public university declaring that such views are myths. The official UCLA view that “free speech is [not] everything” and “censorship is [not] a One-Way Street” would not be supported by many citizens, particularly free speech advocates.”
It’s a fact that “free speech is [not] everything” and “censorship is [not] a One-Way Street.” It shouldn’t be hard for free speech advocates to admit these facts. If “free speech is everything” were true rather than myth, we couldn’t have laws against certain kinds of speech, such as perjury and child porn, and he wouldn’t be able to censor comments on this site, which he sometimes does. Similarly, censorship occurs from multiple sides, so “censorship is [not] a One-Way Street.” Why is it hard for Turley to admit this?
Leftist goal post moving
Absolutes in a true false quiz most always are wrong. Something third graders learn.
So the man with all the education, is forming his false representation of what others are supposedly saying, by using a technique 3rd graders know to be a gimmick.
But it’s good enough for the leftists commenters here.
Actually, I was addressing Turley’s claim that “The official UCLA view that “free speech is [not] everything” and “censorship is [not] a One-Way Street” would not be supported by many citizens, particularly free speech advocates.”
Free speech advocates *should* support the statements that “free speech is [not] everything” and “censorship is [not] a One-Way Street” since those statements are true. Everyone should support true statements.
Everything you post are lies. You should censored
– Svelaz
When Lou Alcindor was recruited, UCLA was a class institution of higher learning.
Have you read what Lou ( Kareem Abdul Jabbar for those who don’t know) has said on social media about the full import of Will Smith’s actions at the Academy Awards ceremony? If not, seek it out and read it. It says more about the decline of UCLA that any comments here on Professor Turley’s blog.
What’s wrong with what Kareem said about Will Smith’s assault against Chris Rock?
Kareem said that Smith was wrong to assault Rock. I agree that Smith was wrong to assault Rock. Physical violence is seldom warranted (self-defense is an exception, but that clearly wasn’t the case with Smith and Rock). Do you agree that Smith was wrong to assault Rock? If not, check your morals.
I took it that Richard was praising Kareem, not attacking him, but maybe I’M wrong.
Kareem’s column doesn’t say anything “about the decline of UCLA.”
Will Smith doesnt want you porking his “wife”, apparently he feels youre not man enough to override his wife’s alphaness.
Jurist Doctorate and the guy is ignorant of the founding of the Nation. Specifically the Constitution and Declaration of Independence.
These are the ‘experts’ to who we acquiesce our opinion
The Constitution has flaws, minor to substantive.
It is just orders of magnitude better than anything else that exists.
Perk made, at the least, a foolish statement, which is meaningless in the real world, though it will continue to resonate throughout the culture. Had he said he wished that Putin were dead, there would be wide-spread agreement and understanding of the wish. No one’s wish that another were dead will make that happen because thoughts are just thoughts. Bob Dylan once wrote (sang), “If my thought dreams could be seen, they’d probably put my head in a guillotine.” There are some thoughts in all our heads that probably should npt be shared. Perk’s thoughts about Clarence Thomas falls into that category for me. The guy doesn’t have much discernment or class. He shouldn’t be punished for making public his useless thought. In fact, it is useful that we now know something about his character and lack of good judgment.
I agree that he should not be punished, but I have to wonder why he has any job at a public university. Imagine if a UCLA official had publicly stated that he wished Ginsberg would die.
HEADLINE NEWS: Many of America’s Institutions have elevated persons to high positions, who should not be trusted to even watch your cat. Our institutions are riddled with low brows in high places.
“Our institutions are riddled with low brows in high places.”
Spot on!
And yet another reason why those who cherish talent should make themselves “beyond their reach.”
America is bifurcated. 2 separate nations/cultures inhabiting the same piece of real estate and despising each other. Jews and Palestinians should recognize where this is headed. You see this hatred all over the internet and all over the nation. It isn’t going to end well for one side.
It will not end well because the left is hateful and deadly. Biden is supporting Pay to Slay. It provides funds to terrorists that kill Jews.
Just substitute conservative for Jew and you can see that there is not a hair’s difference between an islamic jihadist and and antifa/progressive in their obsession with promulgating their ideology at ANY cost.
Most Jews are politically liberal. Interesting that you associate progressives with Islamic jihadists instead of with Jews.
Anonymous………most Jews are not liberal. You probably meant to say that “Most AMERICAN Jews are liberal”.
No, Cindy, I meant what I said. Perhaps you’re not aware that more than half of all Jews in the entire world live in the US, and a lot of Jews living elsewhere are also liberal.
That is not even close to being true. The US has maybe 6 million Jews, out of a total of 16 million plus.
Anonymous……….Wow…..You are seriously attached to that “statistic”.
You’ve probably cross-stitched onto your favorite pillow.
I suggest everyone not lose sight that the globalist banking trash have screwed up the world finances, they’re trapped by their own Monkey vs Cookie Jar & all they have left to attack us with is bio/chem/nuke wars & keep us all fighting each other so we don’t go around all those trouble makes up.
I found this interview with this Jewish Dr & opinions on other Jews & other issues interesting, but I’ll need to watch for what I missed.
Watch their damn volume.
About 46:00
**********
Hacking the Human Design: Dr. Zelenko Exposes Transhumanist Cult High Priest in Powerful Interview
37,207 views
Mar 30, 2022
https://banned.video/watch?id=6244cc2c83fb273cfc4a6c73
My other half is an orthodox Jew who lived in Israel for 20+ years as a Talmudic Rav. He knows that American progressive Jews are antithetical to conservative values and that progressive ideology is lethal to conservative America. I was mostly referencing the ardent fanaticism observable in the tactics of both jihadists and extreme leftists in demanding their ideology be a totality in their goals – their way or the highway.
If you look at the violent extremists in the US, Alma, more are conservative than liberal.
Not true.
Most extremists in America are black Marxists or cuckold husbands
Islamic jihadists and people like Omar are far on the left for as long as the left suits their desires. They are anti-Semitic, and so is much of the left. The Biden administration is trying to destroy peace in the Middle East. Blinkin inserted himself into the discussions between Arabs and Jews. Israel should have thrown him out of the talks. That would have made them look stronger in front of their Arab allies. Biden is supporting a nuclear weapon in Iran which will promote war and perhaps a nuclear war. He is also promoting terrorist actions against Israel, the US, and Israel’s Arab neighbors.
I think the nation is close to 70:30 as far as Jewish support for Trump. The atheist Jews are frequently enemies of Israel and our American Republic.
To be clear about that 70:30, over 70% of American Jews disapproved of Trump. American Jews, whether or not they’re atheists, are not enemies of either Israel or the US.
Practicing Jews hate Democrats precisely because they are anti-Semites. Democrats are done
“To be clear about that 70:30, over 70% of American Jews disapproved of Trump.”
You don’t know that and obviously have trouble where facts are concerned. About 70% of Jews voted for Biden rather than Trump. That doesn’t mean they disapproved of Trump.
“American Jews, whether or not they’re atheists, are not enemies of either Israel or the US.”
The number of Jews that have negative feelings towards Israel is unknown to me and likely unknown to you. The Jewish groups on the left, such as J Street, promote those things dangerous to the survival of Israel. They do not accept that the West Bank, Judea and Samaria, is legal Israeli territory based on international law. Many help support the Biden Pay for Slay program, where terrorists that killed Jews are lionized, and their families are given pensions. Many also support Islamists that have pledged to annihilate Israel.
Actually, Meyer the Troll Liar, I do know that over 70% of American Jews disapproved of Trump: https://www.pewforum.org/2021/05/11/u-s-jews-political-views/
But don’t let facts get in the way of your desire to lie about me.
Another example of a leftist, racist Democrat hating a black man for his success.
Free thinking for black people is not allowed on the Democrat plantation!
time to outlaw all taxpayer funding of universities!
I agree 100%.
Diversity, Inequity, and Exclusion (DIE)
I think his statements are reprehensible and racist but he has a right to his sick opinions.
My only concern is that UCLA apply the same standard to all types of speech by their employees.
He should report himself to his office
Racist hate speech
I thought we had a law about that
Yes, we do have a law about it, which is that people are free to engage in it, and it is unlawful for any government entity to punish people for it in any way, or to do anything that might have a chilling effect on it.
He has the right to say it, but he is a despicable person.
“Any man’s death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.”
No, some men’s deaths don’t diminish anyone. No decent person was diminished by Hitler’s death, or Stalin’s, Mao’s, Fidel Castro’s, Yasser Arafat’s, etc. I look forward eagerly to the news of Mahmoud Abbas’s death, or that of Mummia Whatshisname, Daniel Faulkner’s murderer. Or that of Lemrick Nelson, who murdered my friend Yankel Rosenbaum. And now this Jonathan Perkins has made it to my list; I hope he dies soon. As Ko-Ko put it, “They’ll none of them be missed — they’ll none of them be missed”.
Democrats want the public DISTRACTED from examining Judge Ketanji Jackson’s troubling record. They do not want to talk about KBJ’s record. They want to talk only about Justice Thomas and his wife.
Why are they *not talking about Judge Jackson’s historic nomination? Instead they are talking nonstop about Justice Thomas and his wife. Why?
The Biden WH and the Dems on the judiciary committee are covering-up Judge Jackson’s problematic record. They are hiding it from Republicans and the people. They DO NOT want the media talking about her or the public to know her record or how far out of the mainstream her beliefs lie.
Do not let the Biden WH quietly ram through an unacceptable nominee to the highest court. Call your senators! Unacceptable!
https://rumble.com/vyzv36-judge-jacksons-records-continually-worrisome-as-more-hidden-cases-surface.html
Susan Collins has already said that she will vote in favor of KBJ’s confirmation, so there are clearly enough votes in the Senate to confirm KBJ. The only possible way that KBJ will not be confirmed is if all of the Republicans on the SJC vote against advancing her nomination to the full Senate. Democrats have already talked about her historic nomination, and they’ll talk about it some more before and after the full Senate votes.
No doubt many of your readers have their own wishes concerrning Mr. Perkins’s continuing use of precious oxygen and food supplies, but are too polite to voice them in a public venue.
I hope UCLA dies
Gordy Thomas – if UCLA dies who do you think should take their place in the PAC-12?
San Diego State 😎👍
Sounds like a TERRORIST of the DEMCORAT Terrorist Party!
When the GOP wins…all Democrats will be declared Terrorists…and ALL THEIR RECORDS will be searched!
Mr. Perkins can say anything that he wants to say.
But he also (like so many lefties), showed himself to be an ugly person.
And UCLA double standards, while regrettable, ultimately show lefty academics for what they are.
When will people finally figure out…Democrats…ALL DEMOCRATS are the MOST Greedy, Hate Filled, Lying, Cheating, Hypocrites on the Planet!
Republican NO LONGER apologize. When GOP wins…total Scroched Earth…cut 50% of FED government in DC…and move 40% to the Heartland!
A 5% GROSS financial transaction tax against Wall Street to make investing about investing not gambling. It applies to all stock, bond, movement money offshore, commodities, options, etc!