Protesters derail Yale Law free speech event

Can a liberal atheist and conservative Christian find common ground on free speech? That was a question the Yale Federalist Society aimed to answer before its event was derailed by protesters threatening to literally fight you, bitch.

Protesters stomped, shouted, and pounded the walls at the event, which eventually ended as police escorted the speakers from the room. We at FIRE happily defend protesters rights to speak out, but universities and free societies can t exist when the only opinion heard is the loudest one. 

A video of a portion of the disruption was posted to YouTube. Also worth reading: Yale Law alum David Lat covers recent heckler s vetoes at Yale and UC Hastings on Original Jurisdiction, asking Is Free Speech In American Law Schools A Lost Cause?

via go.thefire.org

These outbursts would end quickly if Dean Heather would simply suspend (or expel) the leader(s) of these disruptions. She’d probably have to suspend the leaders of some of the follow on demonstrations as well. She could accompany each action with a clear statement of what she was doing and why. She could emphasize the importance of free speech in an academic environment, and especially in Law, where controversial topics are inevitable. Yes, not everyone would love her or what she had hypothetically done. But Yale would then be known as the free speech law school. Not a bad reputation to have, I would think. Not holding my breath, though.