Protesters created a stand at?the University of Florida-sponsored talk by Ben Shapiro, a conservative political commentator and editor-in-chief of The Daily Wire, a conservative news website Monday night.
The University of Florida Young Americans for Freedom, a student-led conservative organization, and UF’s ACCENT Speaker’s Bureau co-hosted a gathering?inviting Shapiro to communicate in on campus on the University Auditorium at 7 p.m. Tickets to the event ran out within 45 minutes to get released.
Attendees and protesters crowded not in the University Auditorium a lot more than 1 hour ahead of the doors were scheduled to look at for that event with signs held by protesters of Shapiro and counter-protesters alike, with messages which range from “Stop Rape Culture” to “Snowflakes Melt from the Swamp.”
Some opposed anything they call Shapiro’s extreme views on political and social issues plus much more protesters were against ACCENT’s?using of student fees to cover $15,000 of Shapiro’s $20,000 speaking fee.
Timothy Tia, one of the protesters along at the event, felt as though UF may make considerably more of any influence on students with the money useful to bring Shapiro to UF. Additionally, Tia said he protested Shapiro’s appearance to signify support for underrepresented communities on campus.
“First of the, we’re troubled they are spending tuition dollars on this,” Tia said. “More to the point, I do think we want to show trans students, Palestinian students, Muslim students there presently exists individuals out there supporting them and that not all people at UF is behind any type of ideology that Ben Shapiro represents.”
While several students opposed Shapiro, others including students through the Young American’s for Freedom organization, supported his message and the decision to possess him speak on campus.
Taylor Roth, a publicity and political science major at UF, said she was excited to hear Shapiro speak due to?his thoughts about the constitution, the Bill of Rights and holding authority accountable.
“I came out since i support free speech, so i would choose to hear more conservative viewpoints on campus,” she said. ” I additionally like Ben Shapiro, i like what he has to say, we choose to hear diversity of opinion.”
While Roth supported Shapiro’s message, her major focus was on the exercising of freedom of expression.
“We support freedom of speech so we support basically classical liberal ideas how the country began from that our founding fathers supported and other ideals which will make?America the highest country on the planet,” Roth said.”I feel as if we’re in the time of america where we should quiet down a little, take notice of other viewpoints instead of immediately judge people or label them for both ends of your isle.”
UF YAF president Daniel Weldon,?further expressed how important this event was?for conservatives.
“With a packed venue that seats 840 and a few hundred more waiting outside wanting to be in, conservatism was in demand at UF. People desire to hear something. A genuine conservative speaker hasn’t spoken in years at UF,” he was quoted saying.
Tia also recognized the importance of free speech issue?but said he saw Shapiro’s appearance as being an acceptance of hate speech.
“I think a lot of people agree that he contains a to certainly speak on the university, it’s only, one, that people will need to confront hateful speech if it exists, and also, it is simply a negative by using our tuition dollars,” Tia said.
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