Anti-Tancredo protesters right to voice their views

TO THE EDITOR:

Anti-Tom Tancredo protesters: Thank you for demonstrating today in the Pit. Your exercise in free speech is one of the great things about this country. Anyone can espouse their opinion on a subject without fear of being stopped, so long as what they have to say is not slanderous.

Granted, the allegations you made with the protest signs, such as that Tancredo is the “Modern Day KKK” or the allegations that the University supported white supremacy by picking up the tab for his speech, as your representative with the megaphone claimed, definitely push the envelope for what qualifies as slander.

I’m sure that Tancredo doesn’t want to file suit against a bunch of college students for calling him a member of the Ku Klux Klan; it would be bad for his public image. And I doubt that the University would want to, as it would detract from the atmosphere of free speech UNC prides itself on.

So, thank you, once again, for demonstrating today in the Pit. While I disagree with most of what you have to say, I will defend to the death your right to say it. I hope you will exercise the same mantra when Tancredo comes to campus this month, and leave the bricks at home.

Scott Neidich
Junior
Biology, Chemistry