Ramblings' Journal

Churchill still planning to speak, despite cancellation

Controversial University of Colorado instructor Ward Churchill, who is still in lots of hot water over statements comparing the victims of the 9/11 disaster to Nazis, has proclaimed that he will speak tonight on the University's campus in Boulder, despite the cancellation of a planned gathering at the University's Memorial Center.

Officials with the university sited security concerns as the reason for cancelling the speech inside the University Memorial Center. Supporters then vowed to fight for a court-ordered injunction to allow Churchill to speak. A hearing on the injuction is set for 4 p.m. in Denver Federal court.

No matter what happens in court, supporters say, Churchill will speak tonight outside the University Memorial Center at 7 p.m.

Those who support Churchill say CU is restricting the professor's right to free speech.

"They can expect to hear what I actually said, and the implications of how the media's been spinning it," Churchill said, referring to the content of his speech.

Free speech is a wonderful thing, but just because you have free speech, you don't have the right to demand that the public support it financially. No one is proposing to stop Churchill's right to speak. Just that they (the University, and by extension the taxpayers of the state of Colorado) won't necessarily support his right to free speech fiscally.

As for what Churchill says, he's just plain pathetic and completely wrong. But he's got a Constitutional right to be wrong.

Posted by mhking at February 8, 2005 04:15 PM