20:17 with a hell of a year for the first amendment nowhere was more central
first amendment nowhere was more central
first amendment nowhere was more central to this culture war than the campuses in
to this culture war than the campuses in
to this culture war than the campuses in universities across america including
universities across america including
universities across america including right here at the University of Nevada
right here at the University of Nevada
right here at the University of Nevada Reno to un our students became infamous
Reno to un our students became infamous
Reno to un our students became infamous for their speech in the past year found
for their speech in the past year found
for their speech in the past year found themselves embroiled in two of the
themselves embroiled in two of the
themselves embroiled in two of the biggest free speech controversies of the
biggest free speech controversies of the
biggest free speech controversies of the of the past couple of years student
of the past couple of years student
of the past couple of years student Peter Satana bitch became the face of
Peter Satana bitch became the face of
Peter Satana bitch became the face of white nationalism when a picture of him
white nationalism when a picture of him
white nationalism when a picture of him snarling holding a tiki torch at the
snarling holding a tiki torch at the
snarling holding a tiki torch at the unite the right rally in Charlottesville
unite the right rally in Charlottesville
unite the right rally in Charlottesville went viral on the complete opposite end
went viral on the complete opposite end
went viral on the complete opposite end of the political spectrum if you can
of the political spectrum if you can
of the political spectrum if you can call it that graduate colin kaepernick
call it that graduate colin kaepernick
call it that graduate colin kaepernick went on to the NFL and used his position
went on to the NFL and used his position
went on to the NFL and used his position to highlight police brutality and racial
to highlight police brutality and racial
to highlight police brutality and racial injustice by taking a knee during the
injustice by taking a knee during the
injustice by taking a knee during the national anthem
national anthem
national anthem both men became incredibly controversial
both men became incredibly controversial
both men became incredibly controversial for their speech there were calls in
for their speech there were calls in
for their speech there were calls in campaigns for both men to be expelled
campaigns for both men to be expelled
campaigns for both men to be expelled for their opinions but regardless of
for their opinions but regardless of
for their opinions but regardless of whether you believe with one agree with
whether you believe with one agree with
whether you believe with one agree with one of them or both of them are neither
one of them or both of them are neither
one of them or both of them are neither the First Amendment protects both of
the First Amendment protects both of
the First Amendment protects both of those men and their opinions from
those men and their opinions from
those men and their opinions from censorship and retaliation by the
censorship and retaliation by the
censorship and retaliation by the government that’s a good thing and I
government that’s a good thing and I
government that’s a good thing and I want to tell you why it’s becoming more
want to tell you why it’s becoming more
want to tell you why it’s becoming more common for me to hear that we should
common for me to hear that we should
common for me to hear that we should have lower protections for speech that
have lower protections for speech that
have lower protections for speech that specifically you should criminalize hate
specifically you should criminalize hate
specifically you should criminalize hate speech I hear this from the left a lot I
speech I hear this from the left a lot I
speech I hear this from the left a lot I think a lot of progressives envision a
think a lot of progressives envision a
think a lot of progressives envision a world where people like Colin Kaepernick
world where people like Colin Kaepernick
world where people like Colin Kaepernick can take a knee and protest of racial
can take a knee and protest of racial
can take a knee and protest of racial injustice without fear of retaliation
injustice without fear of retaliation
injustice without fear of retaliation from the government without fear that
from the government without fear that
from the government without fear that the president will pressure the NFL to
the president will pressure the NFL to
the president will pressure the NFL to fire him but they also want to live in a
fire him but they also want to live in a
fire him but they also want to live in a world where a government school like UNR
world where a government school like UNR
world where a government school like UNR can expel a student like Peter Satana
can expel a student like Peter Satana
can expel a student like Peter Satana bitch for his hateful views that is a
bitch for his hateful views that is a
bitch for his hateful views that is a fantasy and more than that it’s
fantasy and more than that it’s
fantasy and more than that it’s dangerous I’m a progressive it’s not
dangerous I’m a progressive it’s not
dangerous I’m a progressive it’s not hard for me to pick between white
hard for me to pick between white
hard for me to pick between white nationalism and racial justice one is
nationalism and racial justice one is
nationalism and racial justice one is abhorrent one is it overdue
abhorrent one is it overdue
abhorrent one is it overdue demand for equal rights but what would
demand for equal rights but what would
demand for equal rights but what would happen if I gave the government the
happen if I gave the government the
happen if I gave the government the right to decide which of those men was
right to decide which of those men was
right to decide which of those men was too hateful to speak president Trump is
too hateful to speak president Trump is
too hateful to speak president Trump is a pretty useful barometer he called the
a pretty useful barometer he called the
a pretty useful barometer he called the marchers at Charlottesville very fine
marchers at Charlottesville very fine
marchers at Charlottesville very fine people while reserving his ire for
people while reserving his ire for
people while reserving his ire for blacks football players who taken me as
blacks football players who taken me as
blacks football players who taken me as sons of bitches your hate speech may not
sons of bitches your hate speech may not
sons of bitches your hate speech may not be the government’s idea of hate speech
be the government’s idea of hate speech
be the government’s idea of hate speech I sure as hell know it’s not mine but
I sure as hell know it’s not mine but
I sure as hell know it’s not mine but even if you happen to agree with Trump
even if you happen to agree with Trump
even if you happen to agree with Trump can you be confident that the next
can you be confident that the next
can you be confident that the next president the next government will agree
president the next government will agree
president the next government will agree with your worldview you shouldn’t be
with your worldview you shouldn’t be
with your worldview you shouldn’t be that’s why above all I am an
that’s why above all I am an
that’s why above all I am an anti-authoritarian I know that the US
anti-authoritarian I know that the US
anti-authoritarian I know that the US government has a long history of
government has a long history of
government has a long history of wielding its raw power against the
wielding its raw power against the
wielding its raw power against the vulnerable communities that speak truth
vulnerable communities that speak truth
vulnerable communities that speak truth to that power against those who seek to
to that power against those who seek to
to that power against those who seek to change the status quo and because I want
change the status quo and because I want
change the status quo and because I want every student to be able to take a knee
every student to be able to take a knee
every student to be able to take a knee without fear of government censorship I
without fear of government censorship I
without fear of government censorship I am a true believer in the First
am a true believer in the First
am a true believer in the First Amendment but even as a First Amendment
Amendment but even as a First Amendment
Amendment but even as a First Amendment attorney I find a lot of the common
attorney I find a lot of the common
attorney I find a lot of the common tropes and myths about the First
tropes and myths about the First
tropes and myths about the First Amendment really unsatisfying so I want
Amendment really unsatisfying so I want
Amendment really unsatisfying so I want to go through three of these myths dust
to go through three of these myths dust
to go through three of these myths dust them off and hopefully in the process
them off and hopefully in the process
them off and hopefully in the process will come up with three practical rules
will come up with three practical rules
will come up with three practical rules for exercising your free speech rights
for exercising your free speech rights
for exercising your free speech rights powerfully and strategically so the
powerfully and strategically so the
powerfully and strategically so the first one is one I suspect we all
first one is one I suspect we all
first one is one I suspect we all learned in kindergarten if you remember
learned in kindergarten if you remember
learned in kindergarten if you remember your nursery rhymes please feel free to
your nursery rhymes please feel free to
your nursery rhymes please feel free to join me sticks and stones may break my
join me sticks and stones may break my
join me sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me
bones but words will never hurt me
bones but words will never hurt me does anyone as an adult actually believe
does anyone as an adult actually believe
does anyone as an adult actually believe this it’s it’s manifestly untrue I’m a
this it’s it’s manifestly untrue I’m a
this it’s it’s manifestly untrue I’m a free speech attorney precisely because I
free speech attorney precisely because I
free speech attorney precisely because I believe that words matters right it’s
believe that words matters right it’s
believe that words matters right it’s ludicrous to protect free speech by
ludicrous to protect free speech by
ludicrous to protect free speech by denying its very power so why do we lie
denying its very power so why do we lie
denying its very power so why do we lie to kids right why do why do we fabricate
to kids right why do why do we fabricate
to kids right why do why do we fabricate this thing for them well it’s because
this thing for them well it’s because
this thing for them well it’s because humans of all ages can be vicious it’s
humans of all ages can be vicious it’s
humans of all ages can be vicious it’s just true and when a kid is at the
just true and when a kid is at the
just true and when a kid is at the receiving end of injustice a taunt
receiving end of injustice a taunt
receiving end of injustice a taunt hateful language
hateful language
hateful language we want that kid to be empowered not
we want that kid to be empowered not
we want that kid to be empowered not diminished in February
diminished in February
diminished in February notorious troll Milo analyst had a
notorious troll Milo analyst had a
notorious troll Milo analyst had a planned speech at UC Berkeley
planned speech at UC Berkeley
planned speech at UC Berkeley students and others in the community
students and others in the community
students and others in the community went nuts there were protests there were
went nuts there were protests there were
went nuts there were protests there were riots things were set on fire the
riots things were set on fire the
riots things were set on fire the administration cancelled his talk in
administration cancelled his talk in
administration cancelled his talk in April there was a repeat same thing
April there was a repeat same thing
April there was a repeat same thing except this time it was Ann Coulter she
except this time it was Ann Coulter she
except this time it was Ann Coulter she was going to speak school officials said
was going to speak school officials said
was going to speak school officials said there’s gonna be riots they cancelled
there’s gonna be riots they cancelled
there’s gonna be riots they cancelled her talk those two individuals and in
her talk those two individuals and in
her talk those two individuals and in Milo man they became martyrs they got to
Milo man they became martyrs they got to
Milo man they became martyrs they got to take on the role of victims of liberal
take on the role of victims of liberal
take on the role of victims of liberal censorship they went on media tours the
censorship they went on media tours the
censorship they went on media tours the media ate it up they got more attention
media ate it up they got more attention
media ate it up they got more attention for being silenced than they ever did
for being silenced than they ever did
for being silenced than they ever did for trying to peddle their actual
for trying to peddle their actual
for trying to peddle their actual substantive views so I think it’s
substantive views so I think it’s
substantive views so I think it’s helpful to think of professional
helpful to think of professional
helpful to think of professional provocateurs and trolls as we would
provocateurs and trolls as we would
provocateurs and trolls as we would those schoolyard bullies yeah their
those schoolyard bullies yeah their
those schoolyard bullies yeah their words can hurt there’s no point in
words can hurt there’s no point in
words can hurt there’s no point in denying that but the better question is
denying that but the better question is
denying that but the better question is how do we respond to that
how do we respond to that
how do we respond to that right and a troll a provocateur wants
right and a troll a provocateur wants
right and a troll a provocateur wants you to censor them right that’s part of
you to censor them right that’s part of
you to censor them right that’s part of the goal it feeds into their power it
the goal it feeds into their power it
the goal it feeds into their power it gives them something else to sell so we
gives them something else to sell so we
gives them something else to sell so we don’t have to march to that tune you
don’t have to march to that tune you
don’t have to march to that tune you don’t have to play that role and we can
don’t have to play that role and we can
don’t have to play that role and we can think of them like these bullies yeah
think of them like these bullies yeah
think of them like these bullies yeah the words hurt but there’s also power
the words hurt but there’s also power
the words hurt but there’s also power incest there’s power in refusing to be
incest there’s power in refusing to be
incest there’s power in refusing to be goaded into a fight or to play the role
goaded into a fight or to play the role
goaded into a fight or to play the role of censor don’t do it but some words
of censor don’t do it but some words
of censor don’t do it but some words wound in ways that are different from
wound in ways that are different from
wound in ways that are different from others which brings us to miss number
others which brings us to miss number
others which brings us to miss number two I hear this one a lot particularly
two I hear this one a lot particularly
two I hear this one a lot particularly online we all know that hate speech
online we all know that hate speech
online we all know that hate speech isn’t protected by the First Amendment
isn’t protected by the First Amendment
isn’t protected by the First Amendment not so as that anecdote about Trump
not so as that anecdote about Trump
not so as that anecdote about Trump hopefully made you think hate speech can
hopefully made you think hate speech can
hopefully made you think hate speech can be in the eye of the beholder ear of the
be in the eye of the beholder ear of the
be in the eye of the beholder ear of the be here I guess that’s word in just this
be here I guess that’s word in just this
be here I guess that’s word in just this week in Spain a man was arrested for the
week in Spain a man was arrested for the
week in Spain a man was arrested for the hate crime this is real
hate crime this is real
hate crime this is real calling cops slackers on Facebook police
calling cops slackers on Facebook police
calling cops slackers on Facebook police are covered under the Spanish hate crime
are covered under the Spanish hate crime
are covered under the Spanish hate crime law that’s what criticizing your
law that’s what criticizing your
law that’s what criticizing your government looks like in a country
government looks like in a country
government looks like in a country without a First Amendment but we don’t
without a First Amendment but we don’t
without a First Amendment but we don’t have to protect speech just out of
have to protect speech just out of
have to protect speech just out of paranoia that our government will warp
paranoia that our government will warp
paranoia that our government will warp but we think speech and hate speech are
but we think speech and hate speech are
but we think speech and hate speech are there’s also an upshot in the late 1960s
there’s also an upshot in the late 1960s
there’s also an upshot in the late 1960s a KKK leader named Charles Brandenburg
a KKK leader named Charles Brandenburg
a KKK leader named Charles Brandenburg was arrested on criminal charges of
was arrested on criminal charges of
was arrested on criminal charges of incitement to violence for holding a KKK
incitement to violence for holding a KKK
incitement to violence for holding a KKK rally the speech was as a pourraient his
rally the speech was as a pourraient his
rally the speech was as a pourraient his vicious racist as you might imagine but
vicious racist as you might imagine but
vicious racist as you might imagine but the KKK lawyers took it all the way up
the KKK lawyers took it all the way up
the KKK lawyers took it all the way up to the Supreme Court and they challenged
to the Supreme Court and they challenged
to the Supreme Court and they challenged this crime said they had a free speech
this crime said they had a free speech
this crime said they had a free speech right to be a KKK member and the Supreme
right to be a KKK member and the Supreme
right to be a KKK member and the Supreme Court thought about it and said you’re
Court thought about it and said you’re
Court thought about it and said you’re right before we allow the government to
right before we allow the government to
right before we allow the government to punish you for your speech it has to
punish you for your speech it has to
punish you for your speech it has to pass such a high bar there has to be an
pass such a high bar there has to be an
pass such a high bar there has to be an immediate and specific risk of actual
immediate and specific risk of actual
immediate and specific risk of actual physical violence to a real person and
physical violence to a real person and
physical violence to a real person and this KKK rally well there’s a group of
this KKK rally well there’s a group of
this KKK rally well there’s a group of white racists there wasn’t anyone around
white racists there wasn’t anyone around
white racists there wasn’t anyone around that they were intending to actually
that they were intending to actually
that they were intending to actually engage in violence against that case in
engage in violence against that case in
engage in violence against that case in a vacuum might be tough to swallow I
a vacuum might be tough to swallow I
a vacuum might be tough to swallow I think particularly a fair person of
think particularly a fair person of
think particularly a fair person of color it’s not the end of the story at
color it’s not the end of the story at
color it’s not the end of the story at about the same time a lion of the civil
about the same time a lion of the civil
about the same time a lion of the civil rights movement named Charles Evers was
rights movement named Charles Evers was
rights movement named Charles Evers was giving a huge speech to a gathering of
giving a huge speech to a gathering of
giving a huge speech to a gathering of n-double-a-cp supporters who had come
n-double-a-cp supporters who had come
n-double-a-cp supporters who had come together to boycott late owned racist
together to boycott late owned racist
together to boycott late owned racist businesses that didn’t allow black
businesses that didn’t allow black
businesses that didn’t allow black Americans to come into their business
Americans to come into their business
Americans to come into their business and as he’s giving his speech Evers gets
and as he’s giving his speech Evers gets
and as he’s giving his speech Evers gets worked up and really passionate and he
worked up and really passionate and he
worked up and really passionate and he says I’ll wring the damn neck of anybody
says I’ll wring the damn neck of anybody
says I’ll wring the damn neck of anybody who breaks this boycott so what’s he
who breaks this boycott so what’s he
who breaks this boycott so what’s he done right he’s he’s fantasized about
done right he’s he’s fantasized about
done right he’s he’s fantasized about some future violence it’s type
some future violence it’s type
some future violence it’s type aesthetical he’s not pointing at Bob
aesthetical he’s not pointing at Bob
aesthetical he’s not pointing at Bob there right so the Brandenburg case has
there right so the Brandenburg case has
there right so the Brandenburg case has just come out at the Supreme Court in
just come out at the Supreme Court in
just come out at the Supreme Court in the n-double a-c-p lawyers look at that
the n-double a-c-p lawyers look at that
the n-double a-c-p lawyers look at that and say well this can’t be right
and say well this can’t be right
and say well this can’t be right how can a KKK leader get a
how can a KKK leader get a
how can a KKK leader get a get-out-of-jail-free card right but our
get-out-of-jail-free card right but our
get-out-of-jail-free card right but our civil rights guy is
civil rights guy is
civil rights guy is evers is being sued for incitement by
evers is being sued for incitement by
evers is being sued for incitement by the same white owned businesses that he
the same white owned businesses that he
the same white owned businesses that he was protesting mr. Evers challenged
was protesting mr. Evers challenged
was protesting mr. Evers challenged these charges to and he went all the way
these charges to and he went all the way
these charges to and he went all the way up to the Supreme Court and the Supreme
up to the Supreme Court and the Supreme
up to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court said well I guess were constrained
Court said well I guess were constrained
Court said well I guess were constrained by that Brandenburg case to give you
by that Brandenburg case to give you
by that Brandenburg case to give you your free speech rights to I want to be
your free speech rights to I want to be
your free speech rights to I want to be clear by the way that I don’t see
clear by the way that I don’t see
clear by the way that I don’t see anything equivalent between the KKK and
anything equivalent between the KKK and
anything equivalent between the KKK and the n-double-a-cp
but the court is an odd place it’s a bit
but the court is an odd place it’s a bit stripped of context in history it’s a
stripped of context in history it’s a
stripped of context in history it’s a kind of bastion of privilege and all
kind of bastion of privilege and all
kind of bastion of privilege and all they boiled it down to was is this
they boiled it down to was is this
they boiled it down to was is this theoretical future violence or is there
theoretical future violence or is there
theoretical future violence or is there an immediate and specific risk of harm
an immediate and specific risk of harm
an immediate and specific risk of harm to a real person they said well from
to a real person they said well from
to a real person they said well from that point of view these look the same
that point of view these look the same
that point of view these look the same now I know a lot of people are skeptical
now I know a lot of people are skeptical
now I know a lot of people are skeptical that in practice the rights that are
that in practice the rights that are
that in practice the rights that are extended to people like a KKK leader
extended to people like a KKK leader
extended to people like a KKK leader actually trickle down to somebody like
actually trickle down to somebody like
actually trickle down to somebody like an N double ACP leader they’re not wrong
an N double ACP leader they’re not wrong
an N double ACP leader they’re not wrong to be skeptical our country has always
to be skeptical our country has always
to be skeptical our country has always taken a while to distribute its rights
taken a while to distribute its rights
taken a while to distribute its rights equally among its citizenry right think
equally among its citizenry right think
equally among its citizenry right think of the right to vote did we all get it
of the right to vote did we all get it
of the right to vote did we all get it at the same time regardless of sex
at the same time regardless of sex
at the same time regardless of sex regardless of race absolutely not or
regardless of race absolutely not or
regardless of race absolutely not or even in today’s world do you think your
even in today’s world do you think your
even in today’s world do you think your constitutional rights at arrest look the
constitutional rights at arrest look the
constitutional rights at arrest look the same regardless of your race your right
same regardless of your race your right
same regardless of your race your right to carry it done do you think that looks
to carry it done do you think that looks
to carry it done do you think that looks the same with you’re black or you’re
the same with you’re black or you’re
the same with you’re black or you’re white again no but if the answer to
white again no but if the answer to
white again no but if the answer to eliminate or lessen the very
eliminate or lessen the very
eliminate or lessen the very constitutional protections that allow us
constitutional protections that allow us
constitutional protections that allow us to hold the government accountable when
to hold the government accountable when
to hold the government accountable when it violates our rights
it violates our rights
it violates our rights hell no instead making sure that
hell no instead making sure that
hell no instead making sure that constitutional rights are evenly
constitutional rights are evenly
constitutional rights are evenly distributed it’s a process right and
distributed it’s a process right and
distributed it’s a process right and it’s our job the First Amendment is no
it’s our job the First Amendment is no
it’s our job the First Amendment is no different right so when the Supreme
different right so when the Supreme
different right so when the Supreme Court when the powers that be give that
Court when the powers that be give that
Court when the powers that be give that right to somebody like Brandenburg a KKK
right to somebody like Brandenburg a KKK
right to somebody like Brandenburg a KKK leader it’s our job civil rights leaders
leader it’s our job civil rights leaders
leader it’s our job civil rights leaders those who believe in equal rights
those who believe in equal rights
those who believe in equal rights injustice to ratchet everybody up to
injustice to ratchet everybody up to
injustice to ratchet everybody up to that same level of protection for
that same level of protection for
that same level of protection for constitutional rights and that’s
constitutional rights and that’s
constitutional rights and that’s precisely what the n-double-a-cp did and
precisely what the n-double-a-cp did and
precisely what the n-double-a-cp did and that’s all of our job to that’s what I
that’s all of our job to that’s what I
that’s all of our job to that’s what I do as a
do as a
do as a free-speech attorney and that’s what you
free-speech attorney and that’s what you
free-speech attorney and that’s what you need to do as students you need to make
need to do as students you need to make
need to do as students you need to make sure that these theoretical rules filter
sure that these theoretical rules filter
sure that these theoretical rules filter down on the ground so our students up
down on the ground so our students up
down on the ground so our students up for it that brings us to our third and
for it that brings us to our third and
for it that brings us to our third and final myth today’s students are just
final myth today’s students are just
final myth today’s students are just snowflakes I hear it all the time
snowflakes I hear it all the time
snowflakes I hear it all the time usually meant as an insult by the way as
usually meant as an insult by the way as
usually meant as an insult by the way as beautiful as snowflakes are so because
beautiful as snowflakes are so because
beautiful as snowflakes are so because of the First Amendment public schools
of the First Amendment public schools
of the First Amendment public schools and universities cannot ban people from
and universities cannot ban people from
and universities cannot ban people from hate from campus simply because their
hate from campus simply because their
hate from campus simply because their views are hateful so that means that
views are hateful so that means that
views are hateful so that means that over the past year black and Jewish
over the past year black and Jewish
over the past year black and Jewish students have had to leave their dorm
students have had to leave their dorm
students have had to leave their dorm rooms and walk to class passing by
rooms and walk to class passing by
rooms and walk to class passing by people who have called for their
people who have called for their
people who have called for their extermination it means that women’s
extermination it means that women’s
extermination it means that women’s students have had to walk by speakers on
students have had to walk by speakers on
students have had to walk by speakers on campus who called feminism a cancer LGBT
campus who called feminism a cancer LGBT
campus who called feminism a cancer LGBT students have had to walk by people
students have had to walk by people
students have had to walk by people saying transgenderism is a medical
saying transgenderism is a medical
saying transgenderism is a medical disorder right no adult has to go to
disorder right no adult has to go to
disorder right no adult has to go to work and walk by people saying they’re
work and walk by people saying they’re
work and walk by people saying they’re less than human or that they shouldn’t
less than human or that they shouldn’t
less than human or that they shouldn’t exist
exist
exist I don’t think students are snowflakes I
I don’t think students are snowflakes I
I don’t think students are snowflakes I think they’re badasses because they bear
think they’re badasses because they bear
think they’re badasses because they bear the brunt of that First Amendment on
the brunt of that First Amendment on
the brunt of that First Amendment on campus were these professional
campus were these professional
campus were these professional provocateurs come right now
provocateurs come right now
provocateurs come right now when I say that silencing your political
when I say that silencing your political
when I say that silencing your political opponents isn’t the answer it’s not
opponents isn’t the answer it’s not
opponents isn’t the answer it’s not because I think that’s weak it’s because
because I think that’s weak it’s because
because I think that’s weak it’s because I think it’s not strategic so if
I think it’s not strategic so if
I think it’s not strategic so if silencing your enemies isn’t an answer
silencing your enemies isn’t an answer
silencing your enemies isn’t an answer what does empowerment look like in the
what does empowerment look like in the
what does empowerment look like in the First Amendment well sometimes it’s just
First Amendment well sometimes it’s just
First Amendment well sometimes it’s just sheer numbers the week after
sheer numbers the week after
sheer numbers the week after Charlottesville a group of people
Charlottesville a group of people
Charlottesville a group of people planned a rally on Boston Common that
planned a rally on Boston Common that
planned a rally on Boston Common that they termed the free speech rally they
they termed the free speech rally they
they termed the free speech rally they were all right folks and this is a week
were all right folks and this is a week
were all right folks and this is a week after Charlotte’s though only a handful
after Charlotte’s though only a handful
after Charlotte’s though only a handful the permit merger the permit holders
the permit merger the permit holders
the permit merger the permit holders showed up but 40,000 plus members of the
showed up but 40,000 plus members of the
showed up but 40,000 plus members of the Massachusetts community and from across
Massachusetts community and from across
Massachusetts community and from across the country engaged in a counter protest
the country engaged in a counter protest
the country engaged in a counter protest ringing Boston Common standing strong
ringing Boston Common standing strong
ringing Boston Common standing strong right sending a very powerful message of
right sending a very powerful message of
right sending a very powerful message of resistance together
resistance together
resistance together that’s a blizzard of snowflakes right
that’s a blizzard of snowflakes right
that’s a blizzard of snowflakes right there’s no weakness in that
there’s no weakness in that
there’s no weakness in that but sometimes just a single person will
but sometimes just a single person will
but sometimes just a single person will make a difference one of my favorite
make a difference one of my favorite
make a difference one of my favorite stories from the last couple of years
stories from the last couple of years
stories from the last couple of years free speech one of my favorite free
free speech one of my favorite free
free speech one of my favorite free speech victories from last few years is
speech victories from last few years is
speech victories from last few years is a musician who was really appalled that
a musician who was really appalled that
a musician who was really appalled that the KKK was planning to march in his
the KKK was planning to march in his
the KKK was planning to march in his hometown of Charleston and so using the
hometown of Charleston and so using the
hometown of Charleston and so using the tools at his disposal he got out his
tools at his disposal he got out his
tools at his disposal he got out his sousaphone that’s one of these big
sousaphone that’s one of these big
sousaphone that’s one of these big breasts for a instrument boom boom and
breasts for a instrument boom boom and
breasts for a instrument boom boom and he got out on the street he got next to
he got out on the street he got next to
he got out on the street he got next to the KKK and he just moved but we thought
the KKK and he just moved but we thought
the KKK and he just moved but we thought but along with them it’s the main thing
but along with them it’s the main thing
but along with them it’s the main thing you should you should look up the video
you should you should look up the video
you should you should look up the video it’s worth watching and without saying a
it’s worth watching and without saying a
it’s worth watching and without saying a single word he he stripped these
single word he he stripped these
single word he he stripped these fascists bare they couldn’t even bear to
fascists bare they couldn’t even bear to
fascists bare they couldn’t even bear to go on marching they were so humiliated
go on marching they were so humiliated
go on marching they were so humiliated you can’t keep up a straight face of
you can’t keep up a straight face of
you can’t keep up a straight face of fascism with a goofy to the line behind
fascism with a goofy to the line behind
fascism with a goofy to the line behind you it’s just hard to do so look I
you it’s just hard to do so look I
you it’s just hard to do so look I believe in the First Amendment
believe in the First Amendment
believe in the First Amendment fundamentally first and foremost because
fundamentally first and foremost because
fundamentally first and foremost because I know it’s the greatest tool we have to
I know it’s the greatest tool we have to
I know it’s the greatest tool we have to keep the government out of regulating
keep the government out of regulating
keep the government out of regulating the conversations that spark every
the conversations that spark every
the conversations that spark every change in the world if you want to keep
change in the world if you want to keep
change in the world if you want to keep having conversations that change the
having conversations that change the
having conversations that change the world you should embrace this First
world you should embrace this First
world you should embrace this First Amendment to messiness and all and even
Amendment to messiness and all and even
Amendment to messiness and all and even though those three myths might might not
though those three myths might might not
though those three myths might might not be true I hope they started to reveal a
be true I hope they started to reveal a
be true I hope they started to reveal a few real nuggets of truth about how we
few real nuggets of truth about how we
few real nuggets of truth about how we can strategically exercise our powerful
can strategically exercise our powerful
can strategically exercise our powerful First Amendment rights number one know
First Amendment rights number one know
First Amendment rights number one know your history know that when rights are
your history know that when rights are
your history know that when rights are extended to the power and powerful and
extended to the power and powerful and
extended to the power and powerful and privileged then it’s our job to make
privileged then it’s our job to make
privileged then it’s our job to make sure that everybody benefits from those
sure that everybody benefits from those
sure that everybody benefits from those rights understand that the same first
rights understand that the same first
rights understand that the same first amendment that first extended to a KKK
amendment that first extended to a KKK
amendment that first extended to a KKK member was used strategically by civil
member was used strategically by civil
member was used strategically by civil rights leaders to cover the n-double
rights leaders to cover the n-double
rights leaders to cover the n-double a-c-p leader as well that’s success
a-c-p leader as well that’s success
a-c-p leader as well that’s success story and we have to keep doing it
story and we have to keep doing it
story and we have to keep doing it number two don’t try and silence your
number two don’t try and silence your
number two don’t try and silence your way out of the debate as we’ve seen from
way out of the debate as we’ve seen from
way out of the debate as we’ve seen from free speech week have we seen from the
free speech week have we seen from the
free speech week have we seen from the free speech rally people trying to
free speech rally people trying to
free speech rally people trying to co-opt the term free speech just feeds
co-opt the term free speech just feeds
co-opt the term free speech just feeds them power we can’t let them do that
them power we can’t let them do that
them power we can’t let them do that free speech as a concept its power is in
free speech as a concept its power is in
free speech as a concept its power is in its indivisibility its equal for the KKK
its indivisibility its equal for the KKK
its indivisibility its equal for the KKK leader and the n-double-a-cp leader
leader and the n-double-a-cp leader
leader and the n-double-a-cp leader alike right so don’t dance
alike right so don’t dance
alike right so don’t dance that tune you don’t have to give the
that tune you don’t have to give the
that tune you don’t have to give the provocateur the censorship she’s
provocateur the censorship she’s
provocateur the censorship she’s desperately hoping that you give her so
desperately hoping that you give her so
desperately hoping that you give her so that brings us to number three dance to
that brings us to number three dance to
that brings us to number three dance to your own tune
your own tune
your own tune figure out for yourself when you go to a
figure out for yourself when you go to a
figure out for yourself when you go to a counter-protest
counter-protest
counter-protest in numbers or alone with your tuba
in numbers or alone with your tuba
in numbers or alone with your tuba figure out when you hold an alternative
figure out when you hold an alternative
figure out when you hold an alternative and more loving event across campus
and more loving event across campus
and more loving event across campus figure out when you think there are
figure out when you think there are
figure out when you think there are ideas that are just fundamentally
ideas that are just fundamentally
ideas that are just fundamentally unworthy of debate and the way that you
unworthy of debate and the way that you
unworthy of debate and the way that you figure out how to handle these conflicts
figure out how to handle these conflicts
figure out how to handle these conflicts how to handle speech that you abhor can
how to handle speech that you abhor can
how to handle speech that you abhor can be a great guideline for how you handle
be a great guideline for how you handle
be a great guideline for how you handle conflict throughout the rest of your
conflict throughout the rest of your
conflict throughout the rest of your life my name is Lee Rowland I’m an
life my name is Lee Rowland I’m an
life my name is Lee Rowland I’m an unabashed progressive I’m a skeptic
unabashed progressive I’m a skeptic
unabashed progressive I’m a skeptic I’m an anti-authoritarian for all of
I’m an anti-authoritarian for all of
I’m an anti-authoritarian for all of those reasons I believe in a robust and
those reasons I believe in a robust and
those reasons I believe in a robust and indivisible First Amendment join me
indivisible First Amendment join me
indivisible First Amendment join me [Applause]
”
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