We previously discussed the disgraceful attack on former swimmer Riley Gaines who was reportedly assaulted when she tried to speak about her views on transgender issues at San Francisco State University (SFSU). Gaines had to be removed to a locked room for hours by police for her own protection. It is now clear why students believed that they had license to engage in such disruptions. SFSU has issued a statement that was conspicuous in its failure to condemn the mob or promise accountability for these actions.
The event was only the latest example of protesters “deplatforming” speakers with opposing views by shouting them down. The mob, however, was so unruly that police had to rush Gaines to safety.
One would think that this would be an easy call for any institution of higher education. Denying free expression and threatening those with opposing views is the very antithesis of core principles.
Instead, SFSU issued a statement that seemed to express sympathy for the protesters and those who were exposed to her views.
After beginning by expressing concern for the transgender community, the statement of Jamillah Moore, Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, repeatedly commends students for their protest and says “Thank you to our students who participated peacefully in Thursday evening’s event. It took tremendous bravery to stand in a challenging space.” At no point does SFSU express concern for Gaines or the students who arranged for the event. At no point does SFSU promise to hold students responsible for shouting down the speaker or endangering her.
Gaines has objected to the notion that the protest was peaceful.
At best, the statement shows a lack of courage to stand firm in the face of this mob. At worst, it is complicit in the incident by enabling such conduct.
It is reminiscent of events at schools like Northwestern. A Sociology 201 class by Professor Beth Redbird was supposed to examine “inequality in American society with an emphasis on race, class and gender.” To that end, Redbird invited both an undocumented person and a spokesperson for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It is the type of balance that is now considered verboten on campuses.
Members of MEChA de Northwestern, Black Lives Matter NU, the Immigrant Justice Project, the Asian Pacific American Coalition, NU Queer Trans Intersex People of Color and Rainbow Alliance organized to stop other students from hearing from the ICE representative. However, they could not have succeeded without the help of Northwestern administrators (including Dean of Students Todd Adams). The protesters were screaming “F**k ICE” outside of the hall. Adams and the other administrators then said that the protesters screaming profanities would be allowed into the class if they promised not to be disruptive.
Of course, that did not happen. As soon as the protesters were allowed into the classroom, they prevented the ICE representative from speaking. The ICE representatives eventually left and Redbird canceled the class to discuss the issue with the protesters that just prevented her students from hearing an opposing view.
SESP sophomore April Navarro publicly rejected that faculty should be allowed to invite such speakers to their classrooms for a “good, nice conversation with ICE.” She insisted such speakers needed to be silenced because they “terrorize communities” and profit from detainee labor:
“We’re not interested in having those types of conversations that would be like, ‘Oh, let’s listen to their side of it’ because that’s making them passive rule-followers rather than active proponents of violence. We’re not engaging in those kinds of things; it legitimizes ICE’s violence, it makes Northwestern complicit in this. There’s an unequal power balance that happens when you deal with state apparatuses.”
No students were ever punished. Similarly, in the outrageous shouting down of an appellate judge at Stanford Law School, the Dean voiced support for free speech but refused to sanction any of the students responsible for the disruption.
The message from these universities is clear: students will not be held accountable for the denial of free speech. That knowledge fuels the sense of license to bar opposing views.
The actions of the students will likely find equal support from many in the California legislature. However, it is the position of the university that will cause the most lasting damage.
Here is the statement:
Dear SF State community, Today, San Francisco State finds itself again at the center of a national discussion regarding freedom of speech and expression. Let me begin by saying clearly: the trans community is welcome and belongs at San Francisco State University. Further, our community fiercely believes in unity, connection, care and compassion, and we value different ideas, even when they are not our own. SF State is regularly noted as one of the most diverse campuses in the United States—this is what makes us Gators, and this is what makes us great. Diversity promotes critical discussions, new understandings and enriches the academic experience. But we may also find ourselves exposed to divergent views and even views we find personally abhorrent. These encounters have sometimes led to discord, anger, confrontation and fear. We must meet this moment and unite with a shared value of learning.
Thank you to our students who participated peacefully in Thursday evening’s event. It took tremendous bravery to stand in a challenging space. I am proud of the moments where we listened and asked insightful questions. I am also proud of the moments when our students demonstrated the value of free speech and the right to protest peacefully. These issues do not go away, and these values are very much at our core.
This feels difficult because it is difficult. As you reflect, process, and begin to heal, please remember that there are people, resources and services available and ready to receive our Gator community, including faculty, staff members, coaches and mentors who are here to support you.
Campus resources are also available:
- Equity and Community Inclusion
- Counseling and Psychological Services
- Dean of Students Office
The well-being of the SF State campus community remains our priority.
Sincerely,
Jamillah Moore, Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management
Their leader said, “It took tremendous bravery to stand in a challenging space.” It’s something another leader in another time would have said about the actions of his brown shirts.
The assembled fascist vigilantes are the ones who made the space far worse than merely challenging. The brave one is Riley Gaines who thought she could be allowed to express, without being made to feel at risk, her views and concerns about the failure of sports and sportsmanship that allows XYs to compete with XXs.
One begins to wonder if there are any universities left where this manner of intolerance and rage is not supported.
The shouting protest is beginning to be the go to form of conversation by those on the left. The left is continuing the shouting protest in Tennessee. Unlike the leadership of this college the leaders of the legislature in Tennessee have maid it plain that such a course of action will not be tolerated. Just imagine a nation where a party that does not agree with a proposed piece of legislation legislation marches in with bullhorns. This isn’t about “power to the people” this is about power to some people only. You can live in such a nation if you like but as for me give me the liberty to speak freely and the liberty to defend myself or give me death.
Principles of DIEversity
This is gaslighting at its finest. Saying things are one way, when the video evidence proves that it was the opposite, and then expecting you to believe what she says. She should get an award for this kind of literary manipulation.
It’s not to difficult to understand. If there are no repercussions for violent disruptions the violent disruptions will continue. The letter from the school was actually a letter encouraging the students to continue their violent protests. It reminds me of the “mostly peaceful” riots by BLM in Portland. For those who continue to vote for Democrats these students are your spokespeople on the front lines. Is there ever any time when you will finally stand up and say enough is enough or will you continue to be people without chests?
No wonder those students act as they do. Look who their role models are:
Who saw on televised news, or read about, the Tennessee State House of Representatives, where two Black representatives (who were actually quite articulate/well-spoken, were removed from the House after using megaphones to incite the shout-down and shutting down of the work of the state House by members of the public, wholly against House rules for members.
I watched NBC and ABC news coverage this a.m. immediately interviewed the two Blacks (the third member, who was not removed, was White, but did not participate in the megaphones or encouraging the crowd. However, that meant nothing to the media, who unequivocally presented selective facts to imply that she was not expelled because she was White). NBC and ABC immediately chose to turn it into a racial/political matter, referring to the “Republican” “White” majority in the House.
Not a SINGLE WORD was mentioned about (1) RULES against the type of conduct the two Black members engaged in; (2) that there are other Black members of the House, whose seats are secure because they act maturely and within the rules. Neither partisan Jonathan Karl nor Chuck Todd never even asked the expelled men about their violation of the House Rules and their violation thereof. Both men instead invoked racial motive for their dismissal, one even mentioning the KKK.
The stoking by MEDIA of racial/political division is truly reaching a dangerous level, I am sorry to say.
Happy Holiday to all (since it represents Spring/Easter/Passover/Ramadan)! I am stuffing my cheeks with deviled eggs and “Pina Colada” cake.
If what I saw from “my perch” as John Kirby said is considered peaceful, then the definition has changed. From “my perch” most of the Capitol on January 6 was peaceful. Those who I do not consider peaceful were the ones who broke windows and climbed through windows. I do not understand students who are “afraid” to hear another opinion. Are they “afraid” they may find some bit of common ground?
Again make all the video public and let the cards fall where they may.
Giving it to Carlson was a start.
But it all needs to come out
The Chansley video makes is crystal clear that the narrative of the left was garbage.
But it does not establish how much actual violence there was and who started it.
That is knowable.
Those who initiated violence – whether protestors or police should be charged.
Everyone else should be pardoned and sent home.
Many of our universities are nothing but indoctrination factories that use students — as Mao did during China’s Cultural Revolution — as a sort of fascist army using verbal and physical violence to eliminate speech that doesn’t follow the party line. After Mao consolidated power those students were some of the first to be placed in indoctrination camps or in the countryside doing slave labor. What goes around comes around.
This is not going to get better. All the preceding calls for interventions by saner minds are as useful as crying for help in an F5 tornado. They will not come, because the White House, through its braindead ‘Binder’, has confirmed that it is in total support of this movement. It is clear what the 2nd Amendment advocates have been telling us all along, and why the ‘Left’ wants their guns.
This incident could only be called peaceful by an idiot. In the theater of the absurd this collective of five year old’s is a day care center and not an institution of higher learning.
If you have to scream and assault an individual with differing views then you are on the thin line of exhibiting behavior strikingly similar to Hitlers Brown Shirts. As for the administration, I can only say you are cowards. Your school is no where close to diversity. The school is not inclusive. Frankly, I would rather take my chances with real gators.
Moore’s “doctorate” is in “education” which puts her in the same category as Jill Biden. Both are “well-schooled” and “credentialed”; that’s the sum of their overpaid usefulness to the world. It speaks poorly to “equality” that both of these creatures are women. The emancipation of women was supposed to raise the level of society, not send it to the sub-basement.
Second attack on free speech on a California public campus in as many months, and this time, it was physically violent. Yes, it’s time for expulsions. The message is not being received.
But I doubt they will do anything. If we want this mob tyranny to stop, we have to start winning national elections so we can defund public institutions that permit this misconduct; otherwise, just know that this problem will get a lot worse. The Democrats will make sure of that.
Three straight disappointing election cycles tells me conservatives are not getting the message either. The Democrats represent cultural collapse, but conservatives are doing a poor job of proving that to swing voters.
We need better leadership and some flexibility on abortion. You can save some babies, or you can save nothing. I’m not happy about such a bloody compromise, but it is what it is.
“We need better leadership and some flexibility on abortion.”
Diogenes, the Republicans Party is divided by pettiness and self-dealing. That is a problem occurring with freedom of thought. The left has no such problem, as they function in lockstep no matter what. Democrats rule themselves in an authoritarian manner.
Republicans cannot formulate an achievable policy pushed forward by all. As you mention, abortion is a prime example. Reducing the number of babies killed while permitting abortion is a movement in the right direction. All Republicans should be able to agree with that.
That involves compromise. I do not understand why some have not learned about that vital tool. Many policies on the right have a win for all sides, but Republicans can be petty. They need to welcome, half a loaf is better than none.
S. Meyer: “Democrats rule themselves in an authoritarian manner.”
You’re absolutely right, Allan. The Democrats have converted their politics into a pagan religion and outlawed tolerance. It’s a terrible comment on humanity because we let them succeed at it.
One man, one vote democracy is impossible; it IS the “dictatorship of the proletariat.” America was designed to be a restricted-vote republic under an infinitesimal government which exists merely to perpetuate the dominion of the “manifest tenor” of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The things that “voters” vote for in a one man, one vote democracy are unconstitutional. The American thesis is “Freedom through self-reliance,” which has no relationship at all to “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.”
The vote must be restricted to capable, accomplished, ambitious people, and denied to dependents and parasites.
The Constitution and Bill of Rights must prevail.
Justices of the Supreme Court and judges must be impeached and convicted for failing to fulfill their sworn-oath duties.
The entire communist, American, welfare state is unconstitutional and must have been and must be struck down immediately and with extreme prejudice.
Congress has the power to tax for ONLY debt, defense and general Welfare, and the power to regulate ONLY money, commerce and land and naval Forces, and ONLY the owner has the power to “claim and exercise” dominion over private property.
Government must be eliminated by about 85%.
Should not that pagan religion be called Meism?
There is only one God, and he is Me.
The Gaines incident requires criminal prosecutions.
Gaines was Assaulted and kidnapped.
Every single person on the outside making demands in return for releasing her – must be charged with a fellony.
Clearly, there were a great many children absent the day “peaceful” was a vocabulary word.
🤮🤮🤮🤮 what Jamillah Moore Wrote is disgusting and should get her fired.
Unfund the faculty by going after every dime they get to use on this type of behavior!
We need not wonder how Hitler Stalin et al came to power. All schools and universities that not only decry opposing viewpoints but encourage students to shut down those who disagree with their own opinions means free speech and diversity of opinions are dying in America. Shame on all such institutions.
Jamillah Moore, VP for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, is a member of the “oppressed” identity class, so don’t expect her to admonish her fellow travelers. At some point these violent actors are going to be met with their equals on the other side. Maybe that’s what the Democrats want — a full-on clash. That’s certainly what George Soros wants.
Cut off the money….end all federal aid and loans for college
Also tax them if they give anyone more than $100k
And these students will absolutely carry their entitlement into whatever they decide to do with their lives later on. It’s a bloody mess, and it’s getting close to a tipping point, i.e., difficult, if not impossible, to correct through conventional means. I am aghast.
You are correct that these actions will carry forward into the lives of students unwilling to hear both sides. I imagine life’s reality will soon serve the customary kick in the pants we all get when we move out on our own. The universities have shielded them from reality, and they are not prepared for the life soon coming at them.
That’s the thing: the society itself creates that reality, and in the future the people in question will be these people. There is no ‘real world’ except for that which we have made and maintain. In the meantime, those in authority continue the coddling on a broader level. These younger people will be the ones doing the hiring and making decisions, eventually. The only thing I see that leading to is collapse. AOC and CHAZ were our sneak preview.
SFSU has quickly cowered down to their Communist Woke Masters. Their jobs and salaries are secure. Thus is the state of “higher education” in America. Lenin is smiling in his grave.