Yet again, the Islamic supremacists demonstrate that they cannot refute what freedom fighters say, and so they have to shout us down and shut us out, as their intellectual and moral forbears, the brownshirts and blackshirts, did before them.
Monday night it happened at UC-Davis. Pamela Geller has the story — here are two letters recounting the events, and Pamela has much more here.
To the editor:
Last evening (February 27) at a presentation at Wellman 106, I witnessed behavior that has no place at UC Davis. A presentation, “Defending the Israeli Image”, sponsored by Chai-Life Club at UC Davis, Chabad of Davis and Stand with Us by 2 Israelis was repeatedly interrupted by hecklers and individuals whose intent was clearly to disrupt the proceedings. One individual planted himself at the back of the room and continuously shouted slurs (“rapists, murderers”) and refused to allow the event to proceed. Although most of the individuals who could be described as opposed to the ideas presented confined their behavior to occasional hooting and jeers, 6-8 individuals felt empowered to prevent any collegial exchange of ideas. Under the circumstances, the Israelis, a former member of the Israeli Defense Forces and a Druze woman showed grace and courage.
Disgracefully, campus security and the UC Davis Police did nothing to prevent this behavior. I was told that they were following orders to do nothing unless there was violence. They also refused to take the names of the disruptive individuals. Clearly this sets a chilling precedent for future campus public events where one individual could disrupt the event without any fear of consequences. To me, this represents the antithesis of what should occur on a university campus. I call on the campus administration, particularly Chancellor Linda Katehi, to investigate what occurred at this event and take appropriate actions against those who behaved outside of the UC Davis code of conduct. I further call on Chancellor Katehi to take appropriate action to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
David Siegel MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine
Department of Medicine
UC Davis School of MedicineDear Police Chief Spicuzza,
I am writing to complain about UCD Police behavior at an event at 7:00 pm in Room 106 of Wellman Hall last night (Monday, Feb 27, 2012). That event was a program featuring two Israelis talking about what they do in Israel (one was a soldier, one not).
From the outset of the program, hecklers interrupted the program making it impossible for the program to proceed. One particular heckler hurled epithets at the speakers preventing their exercise of free speech–and the ability of the audience to listen. I am including a link to a video made at the event so that you can hear for yourself what he said and how he said it.
(youtube url). (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZChRd0irVOc&feature=youtu.be)
After this had gone on for some time, I approached a police officer who was standing idly by and asked why he was there if not to ensure order–and why the heckler was not being removed. He specifically and absurdly responded to me: “We have been instructed by our superior not to stop hecklers, and if you try to stop the hecklers, we have been instructed to close down the program.”
Eventually, after some 15 or 20 minutes the heckler left and the program continued. Heckling to a lesser degree continued all the way through the question and answer period. That the police did nothing was frankly infuriating. I would appreciate your response.
George Rooks
Retired faculty UCD