The Jefferson Council distributed the following statement and attached report to the University of Virginia Board of Visitors this morning.
Dear Board of Visitors members,
On Oct. 11, 2023, journalist Abigail Shrier engaged in a Q&A session at the University of Virginia discussing the transgender movement in the United States. Offended by her views, transgender militants and their allies sabotaged attendance of the event, abrogated an agreement with university authorities restricting where to hold their protest, crowded the entrance to the venue at Minor Hall, berated attendees entering the event, and harassed attendees leaving the event.
In a communication to the Board in response to a letter from Jefferson Council President Tom Neale, the administration responded that some of the behavior was “disappointing,” but noted that there were “no arrests or injuries, and no property damage.” The administration found no grounds for follow-up action.
We vigorously take issue with the administration’s spin. We believe that protesters should be held to a higher standard than not causing injury or property damage.
In the attached report we offer three tangible recommendations for upholding the right of members of the UVa community to hear speakers free from disruption and intimidation.
- Prohibit the practice of registration spam by members of the university community as a tactic for suppressing attendance at targeted events.
- Set clear boundaries at designated protest areas to ensure separation from event attendees.
- Issue No Trespass Orders for community members who engage in disruptive behavior on university grounds.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Bacon
James A. Bacon
Executive Director
The Jefferson Council
Great work! We are fortunate to have you as an advocate.
Isn’t impeding and discouraging entrance to an speaking event considered a violation of the First Amendment?
Only if a Leftist event. If an event not crazy (likely therefore not from the Left), then speech is violence and causes harm and must be stopped.
UVA’s unequivocal support for free speech needs this asterisk*
*(we agree with, otherwise we send out the insane students and Antifa townies and defend their right to disrupt)
** (that “generous” listener bit? Yeah, that only applies to people who disagree with us and you need to sit there and take it)
Why would anyone think that leftists would behave any differently?