Protesters Respond to Bigotry Protesters Respond to Bigotry
October 18, 2006
About 100 protesters gathered on the University of Michigan's campus to counter the "Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day" event hosted by Young Americans for Freedom. Andrew Boyd, the chairman of U-M's YAF chapter, says free speech is good:
We want people to ask questions and encourage debate. It's good to see people use the power of free speech.
A quick review of YAF's history at its website, which is mainly a cheesy shrine to Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater, suggests that the embrace of free speech and freedom is selective. Here are some highlights:
1960’s: YAF goes on the offensive against radical left-wing groups like Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and New MOBE in support of a U.S. victory in Vietnam.
1980’s: During the early years of the Reagan Administration, the residentially challenged set up a quaint homeless community in Lafayette Park across the street from the White House. An Elite squadron of DC area YAFers formed the Lafayette Park Liberation Squad, equipped with a newly appropriated white van the Lafayette Park Liberation Squad tore through Lafayette Park liberating the Park from any would be dwellers.
1990’s: At the 1999 Academy Awards in Los Angeles, YAFer's rally in support of the Academy of Motion Pictures decision to award famous director Elian Kazan with the lifetime achievement award. Confronted by over 600 commies, union thugs, and other leftist swine YAFers continued with their pro-Kazan rally. When the rally turned ugly YAFer Darren Marks went punch for punch with the day laborers until the cops came in and arrested the un-American commies.
A more apropos YAF link: Tool