Free speech rally October 1

In 1921 Hitler personally led his storm troopers in an attack on a meeting which was to be addressed by a Bavarian federalist by the name of Ballerstedt, who received a beating. For this Hitler was sentenced to three months in jail, one of which he served. This was his first experience in jail and he emerged from it somewhat of a martyr and more popular than ever. "It’s all right,” Hitler boasted to the police. "We got what we wanted. Ballerstedt did not speak.” As Hitler had told an audience some months before, 'The National Socialist Movement will in the future ruthlessly prevent – if necessary by force – all meetings or lectures that are likely to distract the minds of our fellow countrymen.” - William Shirer, The Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich

There is a Free Speech Rally scheduled for Wednesday. October 1 at 5:30 on the Ped Mall. I encourage you to attend and to think deeply about the meaning of free speech. It belongs to everybody and it even applies to things you might call "hate speech."

If you are leaning on your right to "free speech" to rationalize efforts to prevent someone you oppose from speaking, and to block people from attending that speech, you're a hypocrite.

And if your purity test is unconditional support for such efforts, you are no progressive.