UNC protest gets rowdy against Tancredo speech

[broncofan7]

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=6761633

See the link for video of these passionate, yet entirely naive youth.........

By Tim NelsonCHAPEL HILL (WTVD) -- There are two questions following a rowdy student protest at UNC Chapel Hill Tuesday night.
Did the protest get out of line and did campus police go too far?
Click here to watch the raw video
Dozens of protesters turned out to oppose a speech given by a former Colorado congressman, who was on campus to speak against illegal immigration.
Story continues belowAdvertisementTom Tancredo didn't make it through his talk. In fact, he left campus early after protesters interrupted his speech and broke a window.
Protesters who weren't allowed into the room where the speech was being given gathered outside the door and chanted, "There's no debate, no space for hate."
In video from Tuesday night's incident, things clearly grow more tense with campus police. There is pushing and shoving on both sides.
One officer is seen on video shaking pepper spray, which was used. Some protesters coughed and covered their mouths after it was sprayed.
In another video clip placed on You Tube, police can be seen shooting their tasers in the air. No protesters were tased and reportedly, no one was arrested.
Click here to watch video captured outside the room where speech was being given.
Click here to watch video from inside the classroom.
Other video shows what was happening inside the classroom with Tancredo. The former congressman once ran for president on a platform firmly against illegal immigration. He was invited to UNC to deliver a speech opposing in-state tuition benefits to illegal immigrants.
Protesters interrupted his speech, stretching out a banner in front of him that read, "No one is illegal." Tancredo grabbed the banner and confronted one of the people holding it.
Then there was the sound of glass shattering. A window was broken by more opponents outside. As the situation escalated, Tancredo left.
Those who went to hear him speak were clearly upset. ""Obviously there wasn't a point," one attendee said. "He wasn't going to be allowed to speak."
UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp responded to Tuesday night's events and said, "We're very sorry that former Congressman Tancredo wasn't able to speak. We pride ourselves on being a place where all points of view can be expressed and heard, so I'm disappointed that didn't happen tonight. I think our public safety officer appropriately handled a difficult situation."

(Copyright ©2009 WTVD-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

[Garcia Bronco]

Once the "protesters" started breaking windows they are no longer peacefully assembling and it's time to take them all to jail.

[ElwayMD]

This is what aggravates me to no end. As an eduactor, I believe it's important to learn both sides of any story before you make a decision. These idiot students who decided to hijack his speech not only have made a mockery of themselves but they have also made a mockery of UNC-Chapel Hill as an institution of higher learning. If students aren't willing to have a peaceful open debate about illegal immigration then they have wasted the thousands of dollars spent on their education.

The problem is nothing positive will come out of this situation. If the administration doesn't take a tough stance and break up these student groups who are using bully tactics to get their opinions out, then there will constantly be situations like this on college campuses. I'm pretty sure that these students would be the same to protest the war and claim that "violence solves nothing". What a shame...

[Dukes]

This is what aggravates me to no end. As an eduactor, I believe it's important to learn both sides of any story before you make a decision. These idiot students who decided to hijack his speech not only have made a mockery of themselves but they have also made a mockery of UNC-Chapel Hill as an institution of higher learning. If students aren't willing to have a peaceful open debate about illegal immigration then they have wasted the thousands of dollars spent on their education.

The problem is nothing positive will come out of this situation. If the administration doesn't take a tough stance and break up these student groups who are using bully tactics to get their opinions out, then there will constantly be situations like this on college campuses. I'm pretty sure that these students would be the same to protest the war and claim that "violence solves nothing". What a shame...


That's the problem with Liberals, they don't think there should be a debate to begin with.

[watermock]

They should be expelled, however I doubt half of them are even students.

[Hotrod]

They should all be sent to the border to help build a fence. :)

[Rohirrim]

That's the problem with Liberals, they don't think there should be a debate to begin with.

Yep, it was them dolgarn libruls.

[Dukes]

Yep, it was them dolgarn libruls.

You're right, conservative college students interrupted a conservative speaker about tuition for illegals. :thumbs:

[barryr]

Liberals have a history of doing such things to limit free speech, which is ironic of course since they claim to want free speech for everyone. It's more to do with free speech for those they agree with and shut up those that don't. You don't hear of many liberal speakers getting treated like that no matter what stupid crap they spew. Probably because very few conservative types spend their time wanting to listen to them, much less go out of their way to try to limit their speech.

[cutthemdown]

Liberals have a history of doing such things to limit free speech, which is ironic of course since they claim to want free speech for everyone. It's more to do with free speech for those they agree with and shut up those that don't. You don't hear of many liberal speakers getting treated like that no matter what stupid crap they spew. Probably because very few conservative types spend their time wanting to listen to them, much less go out of their way to try to limit their speech.

Most of the people who protest are just having fun rebelling against authority. Especially at colleges where dumb snot nosed kids think they know it all.