Posted on 02/17/2005 11:52:28 PM PST by huac
"...The ACLU of Colorado calls upon the university Regents, legislators and the Governor to stop threatening Mr. Churchill's job because of the content of his opinions. This governmental interference with the content of Mr. Churchill's constitutionally protected opinions tramples on fundamental American values...
(Excerpt) Read more at aclu.org ...
February 7, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: media@aclu.org
Statement of Cathryn Hazouri, Executive Director, ACLU of Colorado
DENVER -- The First Amendment of the U. S. Constitution protects University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill's right to speak or write his opinions and it protects the rights of his detractors to say they do not like what he wrote or said. The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado stands firmly for these rights of free speech.
The ACLU of Colorado calls upon the university Regents, legislators and the Governor to stop threatening Mr. Churchill's job because of the content of his opinions. This governmental interference with the content of Mr. Churchill's constitutionally protected opinions tramples on fundamental American values.
The Regents should take care that the Chancellor's investigation of Mr. Churchill's competence is not a fishing expedition to find something -- anything -- to use as an excuse to fire him. If that happens, their action will be subjected to a high level of scrutiny to determine if it is really a guise to fire him for the content of his writing. As Justice Anthony Kennedy said, "The First Amendment is often inconvenient. But that is beside the point. Inconvenience does not absolve the government of its obligation to tolerate speech."
Free speech means we may hear something we do not want to hear. However, that does not give anyone the right to stifle dissent, especially on a university campus. After World War I, when the United States was gripped with fear over the first "Red" scare, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes urged Americans to tolerate even opinions "that we loathe and believe to be fraught with death." It is understandable that people found Mr. Churchill's comment offensive. His language was harsh and he pointed his finger of blame for the attacks at the U.S. government, not at the zealots who flew the planes.
Death threats, canceling speaking engagements and threats of losing his job are not appropriate responses to Ward Churchill's opinions, even if you believe they are outrageous. Those threats are not expressions of American values. The ACLU of Colorado agrees with Adlai Stevenson, Jr. when he said in 1952, "My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular."
The ACLU to the rescue. I assume that it was a slow day, no pedophiles to free on a technicality or Islamofascist terrorist lawyers to defend.
The Anti-Capitalist Loonys Union strikes again.
These moobats are the worst. There is not scum low enough that they won't defend so long as they hate America, goodness and decency.
Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News."
But noone is entitled to a "right to be a university professor".
Funny, I didn`t know making terrorist threats was suddenly considered a "constitutionally protected opinion".
Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News."
"The ACLU of Colorado calls upon the university Regents, legislators and the Governor to stop threatening Mr. Churchill's job because of the content of his opinions. "
I thought they were threatening his job because of the contents of his fraudulent resume. A white guy pretending to have an indian heritage in order to become chairman of the Indian studies department seems like excellent grounds for dismissal.
Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News."
Yeah but he also made terrorist threats. He said "3000 people killed is not enough. 7 million need to be killed to make it even." That`s something Al Qaeda says. Is making terrorist threats considered free speech? I would think that alone would be enough to fire him if not get him arrested.
Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News."
WOW! This comes as a real shock to me.
Does 'free speech' include the right to misrepresent his resume?
A group of Marines were all bowing their heads. That's because they were praying!
This incident took place at a recent ceremony honoring the birthday of the
corps, and it has the ACLU up in arms. "These are federal employees," says
Lucius Traveler, a spokesman for the ACLU, "on federal property and on
federal time. For them to pray is clearly an establishment of religion, and
we must nip this in the bud immediately."
When asked about the ACLU's charges, Colonel Jack Fessender, speaking for the Commandant of the Corps said (cleaned up a bit), "Screw the ACLU." GOD Bless Our Warriors, Send the ACLU to France."
ACLU is intent on trying to remove GOD from everything and every place in America. May God Bless America, One Nation Under GOD!
What's wrong with the picture? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
I would be disappointed had the ACLU not shown up.
We all know what the ACLU is about. How could they resist this? The only thing they are regreting is that one of their own didn't say it first.
But of Course. The ACLU is merley defending it's base.
Just as in the Sixties when Congress was told that the
ACLU was a "transmisison belt for Soviet Communist dictatorship" That 90% or more of their case load was
defending Communists who had run afoul of the law.They
are merely defending their base. The ACLU never met an
America HATER it didn't love to represent.
I also support Ward Churchill's Free Speech rights.
He is free to say anything he wants... and to suffer the consequences.
I, or the good citizens of Colorado since I am not a Coloradan, should not have to SUPPORT his tirades. If he wants to say black is white, apple pie is terrible and Mom is evil, fine... but not on my dollar.
If he were working for a private employer, his Ass (I am certain he votes Democrat) would be grass... and a more suitable employee would be drawing Churchill's paycheck.
Somebody needs to remind the ACLU that common law and the Constitution, not media culture and academic status-seeking, define free speech.
Churchill is quite free to spew his insanity from a soapbox in a Boulder park, but there is no right to state sponsorship for that presentation and there is no right to the forum of one's choice at all, in fact.
There is also no right to immunity from criticism or hostility and no right to be taken seriously.
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