Solidarity with UNC SDS

See attached.

We the chapter of Students for a Democratic Society of the University of Central Florida would like to declare our support for and solidarity with all of those who protested the speaking event of former Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo.

We are in solidarity with all those who stand against racism, bigotry, and hate. We applaud those who work for justice, inclusiveness and diversity. We extend our deepest condolences to any of the protesters that were harmed.

We do regret that the lack of coordination between the tactics of the different groups that lead to the dissent of some being silenced and we appreciate the honesty and frankness of the Chapel Hill chapter of SDS for admitting this in their statement.

However, it seems clear that it was the violent tactics of UNC Police and Tancredo’s group that lead to the escalation and to the event being shut down. It was the Police who fired pepper spray at the demonstrator’s faces and it was UNC Police and Tancredo’s group who violently assaulted demonstrators without provocation. As near as we can tell neither Tancredo’s entourage nor the police suffered any injuries or were assaulted physically.

Given these and other events we are puzzled as to why UNC official’s apologized to Tancredo, suggesting that his free speech rights were violated. Events would suggest that it was not Tancredo, who was forced to leave but left of his own accord after giving a short speech.  It was the protesters who had their free speech rights violated.

LUCHA at Columbia University stands in solidarity with the brave protesters of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We commend all of the students who stood up to the racist politics of Tom Tancredo and sent a clear, public message that there is no space for hate on their college campus. Just as many of our members faced great hostility in the aftermath of the minutemen protest where we confronted the bigoted vigilante group of the Minutemen, so too the UNC protesters are the object of much criticism.  Instead of delving into the sociopolitical causes of illegal immigration and exploring America's role and/or responsibility in the matter, critics would rather shift the focus away from the issue at hand and assign blame to the protesters.

Those opposing the protesters will surely attempt to turn this incident into a debate on free speech, distracting others from the real implications of allowing hateful rhetoric to be spewed on their campus. They will call upon the First Amendment to make a victim out of racist Tom Tancredo who seizes every opportunity he has to demonize undocumented immigrants. However, in looking to the law, they fail to bring up Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This recognizes the impermissibility of allowing racism and discrimination in an educational institution that receives any kind of federal funding from creating a hostile learning environment. Not only is Tom Tancredo's presence at UNC alienating for a number of students, it gives his xenophobic platform legitimacy.

The student activists who confronted the meeting where racist former congressperson Tom Tancredo was invited to speak by the white supremacist student group Youth for Western Civilization were correct and no amount of obfuscation or attacks from any direction can diminish the importance of their action.

The tactics of the police who escalated the situation by using violence should be condemned.  The students have a right to protest hateful and racist language that incites violence against oppressed people.

By attacking the student demonstrators, the police illustrated once again that their job is to protect those who seek to divide all working and oppressed people.

Tom Tancredo, with his scapegoating of immigrants, racist attitude towards Muslims and Arab people and his insensitive, hateful remarks toward indigenous people should not be left free to spread his vicious beliefs anywhere.

Groups like the Youth for Western Civilization are springing up around the country in response to a changed working class.  They espouse the greatness of a western civilization built off the super exploitation of darker skinned people—the indigenous people who lived here for generations before European colonization and the African people brought here in chains.

Racist, ultra right groups are gaining more momentum to increase their numbers as the crisis of the economic system deepens.  Racists are also angered by the symbolism of the first Black president.

The young students and supporters at the University of North Carolina were being responsible, thoughtful activists by boldly protesting and attempting to hold an alternative program to what the Youth for Western Civilization was holding.

To: Chancellor Holden Thorp

CC: UNC System President Erskine Bowles, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Roger Perry
From: United Students Against Sweatshops, 2008-2009 National Coordinating Committee
Date: April 22, 2009 
RE: Free Speech at Carolina

On behalf of United Students Against Sweatshops, we write to express our solidarity with those who
protested the April 14, 2009 speaking event with former Colorado Republican Representative Tom
Tancredo and the right-wing event host Youth for Western Civilization. We represent an international
student-labor network, established in 1998, with hundreds of member organizations across North
America. We are part of a global movement that supports working people and challenges corporate
control and power over our communities.

In recent days, members of the UNC-CH administration have condemned the actions of protesters and
apologized to Tancredo on the grounds that Tancredo “felt threatened” and that the protesters did not
respect Tancredo's right to freedom of speech. Meanwhile, what the University has failed to condemn is
that nonviolent students were sprayed with chemical agents, thrown roughly to the ground, and
threatened with tasers. It is regrettable that minor property damage occurred at Bingham Hall after
police violence escalated the situation, and we are glad that no one suffered any injuries due to the
broken window. However, it is shameful that the University has concerned itself only with the free
speech and safety of Tancredo, and not the free speech and safety of its own students.

Former Congressman Tom Tancredo's free speech rights were not violated.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is intended to protect the public, when expressing