The proper way to handle illegal protests at universities has been clear from the beginning: Enforce the law.
No student has been denied the opportunity to express their First Amendment rights, even if it is to do something as stupid as being willing tools for Hamas.
What they don’t have a right to do is break the law. The Left believes lawbreaking is justified when they deem their cause worthy enough.
Ben Sasse says ‘no’.
University presidents everywhere need to embrace this simple statement by Ben Sasse, President of the University of Florida:
“At the University of Florida, we have repeatedly, patiently explained two things to protesters: We will always defend your rights to free speech and free…
— Michael Shermer (@michaelshermer) May 4, 2024
The former Senator from Nebraska framed it perfectly:
At the University of Florida, we have repeatedly, patiently explained two things to protesters: We will always defend your rights to free speech and free assembly—but if you cross the line on clearly prohibited activities, you will be thrown off campus and suspended. In Gainesville, that means a three-year prohibition from campus. That’s serious. We said it. We meant it. We enforced it. We wish we didn’t have to, but the students weighed the costs, made their decisions, and will own the consequences as adults. We’re a university, not a daycare. We don’t coddle emotions, we wrestle with ideas.
Nailed it.
This does not satisfy the keffiyeh-clad campus crusaders who have descended on colleges across the nation. Legally stating their message in protest is not good enough for them. Forcefully making others endure their whining is their strategy. It’s not enough to be able to speak. We must be made to listen and comply, and they will interfere with the freedoms of others to try to achieve it.
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“We’re a university, not a daycare.”
— Brian Gilmartin (@TrinityAssetMan) May 4, 2024
Unfortunately, it’s become apparent that too many students are overgrown toddlers.
Ben Sasse’s statement should be emailed to every college/university president across the country.
It is perfectly stated and succinct.
NOTHING else needs to be said.
NO discussion.
Period.
End of story.— BeeBee (@BabsBeeBee) May 5, 2024
Others should learn a lesson from Sasse. If you want to end this or stop it from ever happening on your campus, just enforce the rules. Most students won’t want to torch their future for an afternoon of protesting.
Wrestle with ideas – except the ones we don’t like. To express those, you must wrestle with the riot police.
As always, hypocrisy above all.
— Ali Minai (@barbarikon) May 5, 2024
The Left loves to spread the falsehood that being able to exercise your First Amendment rights is synonymous with being able to break the laws you don’t like.
Again, nothing was preventing protesters across the country from protesting legally.
It’s really not that hard… https://t.co/Lbr0NUXdj3
— AG (@AGHamilton29) May 4, 2024
It’s not. It’s really rather simple … unless you’re a left-wing agitator who thinks you’re above the law.
How a university president, or any adult in charge, is supposed to act: https://t.co/LO8B9X1R0b
— Gail Finke (@gailfinke) May 5, 2024
Not only have protesting university students proven themselves incapable of behaving properly, but university leadership across the nation has shown themselves to be woefully inadequate to handle such events. Probably because a lot of them are the grown-up version of tantrum-throwing toddlers we’ve witnessed in recent weeks.
— President Camacho – 1st Governor of Greenland (@BrawndoLabs) May 4, 2024
Well done, Ben Sasse. More of this, please.
