Columbia University protesters prepare for Iran's president

The New York Daily News ^ | September 22, 2007 | MATT SOLARS, KATHLEEN LUCADAMO and NICOLE BODE

[Stoat]

Columbia University protesters prepare for Iran's president

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BY MATT SOLARS, KATHLEEN LUCADAMO and NICOLE BODE
DAILY NEWS WRITERS

Saturday, September 22nd 2007, 4:00 AM

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Columbia University students plan mass protests to greet Holocaust-denying Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad when he arrives on campus Monday to give a lecture.

Students planning the demonstration on the steps of Low Memorial Library papered the area with posters yesterday depicting public executions of gays in Iran.

"Any student who cares about freedom of sexuality and freedom of religion should stand up and protest against this murderous dictator," said Sharona Getz, 22, who was taping up signs in the student union.

While many plan to protest his terrorist-loving views, it was hard to find a student who thought he should be barred from campus.

"If we believe in freedom of speech, I think we should let him come," said Iranian law student Matin Hughes, 27.

Columbia is barring nonstudents from the campus Monday for security reasons - to the consternation of some protest organizers.

"It's a perversion of free speech," said Rabbi Avi Weiss, head of the Coalition of Jewish Concerns. Nonstudents will protest outside the campus gates at 116th St. and Broadway.

Ahmadinejad's visit - his third to New York - comes as Washington is ratcheting up the rhetoric against Iran, accusing the "Axis of Evil" member of developing nuclear weapons and arming insurgents in Iraq.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and several other pols and Jewish groups bashed Columbia for the invite, but Mayor Bloomberg, Gov. Spitzer and the White House declined to follow suit.

"Look, it's a university, they have a right to invite who they want. I personally am not going to get involved in criticizing them because I think that is a slippery slope," Bloomberg said.

The White House backed him up.

"It's a free country. We wish the same were true in Iran," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

"You should treat this as an off-Broadway production," former UN Ambassador John Bolton said, describing the United Nations as a "Twilight Zone" that gives a platform to "tinhorn dictators."

In any event, Ahmadinejad will be well-protected while in town.

The State Department has issued him a superrestrictive C-2 visa. It lasts 29 days and the holder must remain within a 25-mile radius of Columbus Circle.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly warned the Iranian president to stay away from Ground Zero because his appearance could incite crowds.

"Obviously, Ground Zero has tremendous emotion attached to it and that might affect reaction of crowds," Kelly said.

Ahmadinejad wanted to lay a wreath at Ground Zero, but the NYPD said no. Asked what would happen if Ahmadinejad showed up anyway, Kelly said: "I believe that will not happen."

[Stoat]

Students planning the demonstration on the steps of Low Memorial Library papered the area with posters yesterday depicting public executions of gays in Iran.

It's a shame that the homosexuals didn't become so incensed when Castro came to the UN, and have not  pointed to this popular activity of executing homosexuals as an additional reason for supporting the War on Terror, considering how popular this pastime is in Islamic countries.  Better late than never, I suppose, and hopefully they will learn something through their participation.

There's quite a bit more on the planned protests here:

Columbia U. students organize Ahmadinejad is not welcome here (Michelle Malkin)

 

 

 

[nyyankeefan]

Columbia University leftists prepare for Iran’s president ...

rolling out the red carpet for a leader of muzzie terrorists hell bent on killing American troops in Iraq, killing all Jews and wiping Israel off the map!!!!

[joeystoy]

Let’s see how the university reacts to these protestors as compared with the protestors (thugs) that stormed the stage during the Minuteman appearance.

[Stoat]

Columbia University leftists prepare for Iran’s president ...

rolling out the red carpet for a leader of muzzie terrorists hell bent on killing American troops in Iraq, killing all Jews and wiping Israel off the map!!!!

I'm sure that everyone sees this invite from Columbia as mainly being an effort to poke President Bush in the eye, and it's certainly in keeping with their 1933 invitation to Hitler.

The faculty there is obviously too far gone to be salvaged, but hopefully the protests will help to educate some of the students as to the dangers that we all face as a result of this madman and those like him.

Columbia University leftists prepare for Iran’s president ...

rolling out the red carpet for a leader of muzzie terrorists hell bent on killing American troops in Iraq, killing all Jews and wiping Israel off the map!!!!

[monocle]

Protesters should exercise their freedom of speech by carrying enlarged copies of the cartoons which enraged some muslims.

[Stoat]

Let’s see how the university reacts to these protestors as compared with the protestors (thugs) that stormed the stage during the Minuteman appearance.

I'm sure that this modern-day Hitler will be treated far better than Mr. Gilchrist was at Columbia.  Sadly, non-students will not be allowed to protest on the campus itself and will have to stay outside the gates.  I don't know if such restrictions were placed upon the anti-Minutemen protesters.

[Man50D]

His visit is tantamount to allowing Hitler to visit the U.S. during WWII.

[CRBDeuce]

Yep, a tinhorn university president inviting a tinhorn dictator to propagandize his students....

oh, and it’s Coulter/Rice ‘08!

[DogBarkTree]

Is he speaking anywhere near the park?

[Stoat]

Protesters should exercise their freedom of speech by carrying enlarged copies of the cartoons which enraged some muslims.

I sincerely hope that there will be a SEA of signs such as what you suggest as well as many similar to these

StandWithUs Signs

[weegee]

Is it legal to discriminate against hiring people with degrees from Columbia University?

There is no sex, race, creed, or color in that decision.

[Stoat]

His visit is tantamount to allowing Hitler to visit the U.S. during WWII.

Indeed.  Columbia invited Hitler to speak in 1933, and I am not given any reason to think that they would have objected to him coming to their university during the height of the war either.

[weegee]

True as his nation is supplying the terrorists in Iraq with training, weapons, and manpower.

As the head of that nation, he is currently AT WAR with the United States.

Let’s get this war with Iran declared already.

The Left continues to deny his hand in it.

[Man50D]

Let’s get this war with Iran declared already.

Bush should attack Iran while the Iranian dictator is in the U.S.

[weegee]

Perhaps it’ll educate the students that they should seek a degree from a less politically EVIL university.

[P.O.E.]

Prayers for the safety of students who will be trying to mind their own business and just get to classes.

[toddlintown]

“The State Department has issued him a superrestrictive C-2 visa. It lasts 29 days and the holder must remain within a 25-mile radius of Columbus Circle.”

Wow! Is that “superrestrictive” or what? How can somebody write this with a straight face?

[Stoat]

Yep, a tinhorn university president inviting a tinhorn dictator to propagandize his students....

I think that the President of Columbia couldn't care less about his students.....this spectacle is being put on primarily as an effort to poke President Bush in the eye.

oh, and it’s Coulter/Rice ‘08!

LMAO!

That would be fine with me :-)

Either way, it would be an unstoppable ticket that would crush the Dems and energize the Republican Party for the next hundred years.

 

 

Yep, a tinhorn university president inviting a tinhorn dictator to propagandize his students....

I think that the President of Columbia couldn't care less about his students.....this spectacle is being put on primarily as an effort to poke President Bush in the eye.

oh, and it’s Coulter/Rice ‘08!

[JimRed]

Sounds like the most vocal of the protesters will be the promiscuous and the queers, two groups encouraged by the liberals at Columbia. What to do, what to do...

Liberal heads a’ spinnin’!

[Stoat]

Is he speaking anywhere near the park?

LMAO!

Hopefully the Secret Service, the FBI and other involved law enforcement entities will publicize the times at which they will be taking coffee breaks........