The Spectacle Blog
Tancredo Shut Down
Advocates against free speech shut down an event at the University of North Carolina last night in which Rep. Tom Tancredo was to speak against providing in-state college tuition to unauthorized immigrants.
Advocates against free speech shut down an event at the University of North Carolina last night in which Rep. Tom Tancredo was to speak against providing in-state college tuition to unauthorized immigrants. The News & Observer of Raleigh reports:
Hundreds of protesters converged on Bingham Hall, shouting profanities and accusations of racism while Tancredo and the student who introduced him tried to speak. Minutes into the speech, a protester pounded a window of the classroom until the glass shattered, prompting Tancredo to flee and campus police to shut down the event.
Tancredo said it was the first time he’d ever had one of his speeches ended by protesters, who were actually threatening him:
About 200 protesters reconvened outside the building. “We shut him down; no racists in our town,” they shouted. “Yes, racists, we will fight, we know where you sleep at night!”
Update 9:10 a.m.: Some added perspective after reading Michelle Malkin’s column today about that report from the Dept. of Homeland Security that warns about right-wing radicalism turning violent:
Moreover, the report relies on the work of the left-leaning Southern Poverty Law Center to stir anxiety over “disgruntled military veterans” — a citation that gives us valuable insight into how DHS will define “hate-oriented” groups. The SPLC, you see, has designated the venerable American Legion a “hate group” for its stance on immigration enforcement. The report offers zero data, but states with an almost resentful attitude toward protected free speech: “Debates over appropriate immigration levels and enforcement policy generally fall within the realm of protected political speech under the First Amendment, but in some cases, anti-immigration or strident pro-enforcement fervor has been directed against specific groups and has the potential to turn violent.”
The radicals at UNC did turn violent and threatening last night. Is DHS assuring us that they are watching these radicals? Are they locked up this morning?
Update II 9:30 a.m.: Video of the event is posted at YouTube by someone from ALIPAC. It appears the campus police were pretty cowardly in failing to clear the room (which surprised me in that it looks pretty small) of the disrupters. Instead they just put an end to Tancredo’s talk.
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Bobbi| 4.15.09 @ 8:35AM
Another fine example of the "tolerant" left.
Pingback| 4.15.09 @ 8:40AM
Tancredo Shut Down | But As For Me links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Deborah | 4.15.09 @ 10:24AM
The Left says: "Free speech for me, but not for thee."
How embarrasssing for the state of NC -- UNC is supposed to be the cream of the crop. Looks like they've never heard of the First Amendment -- time for those who run this university to go back to school themselves.
2Anglico| 4.15.09 @ 11:10AM
One day, one day.......
MT| 4.15.09 @ 11:50AM
What are they afraid of....the truth? I wonder how many of them are part of ACORN.
ncatty| 4.15.09 @ 11:54AM
Well, I live in NC and the only difference between Cal-Berkeley and UNC is the quality of their basketball programs. This has been true since the 30s.
Trezl| 4.15.09 @ 12:07PM
Yay for California liberalism spreading around the country.
Back in 2000, this used to happen to us all the time at Cal Berkeley. Whenever a conservative speaker was on campus, 20-50 "protesters" would show up and scream and throw things until the speaker gave up and left.
Curtis Rasmussen| 4.15.09 @ 12:25PM
'unauthorized immigrants'? These people are not immigrants. They are illegal aliens that have committed a crime by their very presence on US soil.
Paul, we need a PC checker program to run before posting. PC is so pervasive today that it is easy to slip up.
Lily| 4.15.09 @ 12:31PM
And DHS think that conservatives are the threat?
Pingback| 4.15.09 @ 1:16PM
Next time someone tries to tell you that Liberals are not fascists, Show ‘em this. « links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
bear1909| 4.15.09 @ 1:27PM
Forget live audiences. The technology exists to get the content beamed live over the internet. Go Green and beat these putzes at their own game. Still charge the same fees for speaking....and get the messages out. This type of lawlessness is easily circumvented. Contact me at achavez@supplychainbrain.com for further information. We will not submit.
Lynne| 4.15.09 @ 1:34PM
Uh, another difference between Cal and UNC is academic excellence. Cal's got it.
bear1909@aol.com| 4.15.09 @ 1:35PM
One more point: how many people would Tancredo have reached last nite? a handful. the internet gives us a chance to reach way more people over time. the appearance of a scant audience suggests our numbers are thin. but we outnumber them. Get a bigger audience and keep the content available. The live audience gig is old school and unsustainable. There IS NO TIME!
MT| 4.15.09 @ 1:36PM
If we retreat from appearances before live audiences, we've lost. Bring our own security.
bear1909| 4.15.09 @ 1:38PM
Cal allows the Muslim Student Association to do what they please. And they allow their jihadi professor spew his Jew hatred. Excellence? Cal is a sham.
MT| 4.15.09 @ 1:52PM
Don't be blinded by Cal's liberalism--it's still a great school academically.
ncatty| 4.15.09 @ 2:10PM
I would not want be governed by either the UNC faculty or the first 100 names in the Chapel Hill phonebook.
RM| 4.15.09 @ 2:30PM
Sophmoric school-children make me wanna puke.
Pingback| 4.15.09 @ 2:52PM
Left-Wing Thought Police Shut Down Tancredo Event | Conservative Heritage Times links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Thom| 4.15.09 @ 4:06PM
The DHS won't pay any attention whatsoever to Left-Wing Nut Jobs. Why? Because they're on the same team. They all play for the Washington Federalists.
bear1909| 4.15.09 @ 4:07PM
MT: "MT| 4.15.09 @ 1:52PM
Don't be blinded by Cal's liberalism--it's still a great school academically."
It is not an either or. The liberalism of its policies and faculty influence minds on a grand scale. The liberalism is infused into the arts and sciences curricula as well as its business and law.
People are the institution. The pandering of the "academic" to the faux science of climate change funding sources is inseparable from the liberal persuasion of them that's doin.
And your presumptuous demeanor that tells you I am "blinded", also speaks of your own liberal academic myopias. I served in so-called "public institutions" of learning for "hire" for nearly 30 years---- liberalism is a cancer in the hallowed halls.
And it's bitter fruit is this walking sight gag in the white house and his minions who seem to just be waiting for the day they'll be granted uniforms to enforce the illusion that liberalism exists in a vacuum without any impact on the shaping of thought, logic, symbol formation, standards of behavior, cultural compliance, political action, governance, science, entertainment, etc etc etc.
Thank you for reading.
Pingback| 4.15.09 @ 4:12PM
The REAL Hate Groups | DougJumper.com links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
MT| 4.15.09 @ 6:43PM
bear1909--you're preaching to the choir--but Cal's not alone: The disgraceful Tancredo incident occurred at UNC. Cal is not the only extremely liberal University in the country. I'm a traditional Conservative, and I think I'm pretty objective; I'm not so close to the situation that I'm blind to it. You're comparing apples and oranges. Also, Conservatives can't surrender their right to speak in public--no way will I give that up. I'd rather confront the protesters than run away from them.
bruce| 4.16.09 @ 2:02AM
this is an example of liberal thought. they know the answers and if your try to have a discussion with them, they will shout you down. free speech is theirs alone. it is menat for the elite, not everyone. it is time that they get the same treatment. the next liberal speaker should be met with loud anti message, shout them down. NO VIOLENCE, just noice. be sure to pretend you are for them so you can get in, then protest. i bet the university removes you from school, and arrests you.
Tish | 4.16.09 @ 9:36AM
The Southern Poverty Law Center is a business operation run to enrich its founder, Morris Dees, and anyone relying on its output is suspect in my book. Isn't it curious that the campus police did nothing about removing the disrupters from the room, but were able to shut the event down?
Advent Speakers | 6.2.11 @ 10:02PM
Just forget the SPLC. They are a bunch of crooks.