Brown U. student called “White Supremacist” for wanting to hear Ray Kelly speak
on October 30, 2013
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This is a follow up to our post last night, Brown U. students shout down Ray Kelly.
The Brown Political Review has produced an excellent video (embedded at bottom of post) with footage both inside and outside the auditorium as Kelly was shouted down, and interviews with students and administrators.
Is is quite clear that there was an organized effort to shut down the Kelly speech, and that many of the people shouting were not even students. Student Emily Kassie, who produced the video (speaking for herself, not BPR), told me via email:
The protestors were a mix of Providence community members and Brown students. There is a moment in the video where people are asked to raise their hands if they want to hear Kelly speak. About half the room raised their hands.The woman in the image below (since removed) related how she was called a White Supremacist for wanting to attend the lecture (at 9:30):
I got called a White Supremacist when I tried to go inside, cause I told a man near the front door that I wanted to hear what Kelly had to say. And I think that's pretty ridiculous. I think the idea that suppressing another person's right to free speech equals exercising your free speech is completely wrong.In a press release, the BPR described what went on inside the auditorium:
Kelly had time only to thank the event organizers, before a group of students and community members in the audience rose simultaneously to read prepared remarks. “Asking tough questions is not enough!” they read together, fists raised in unison.
