UCLA Won’t Let Free Speech Event Criticize Islam
A free speech event would seem to be the ideal place to promote debate and discussion on important political issues, such as radical Islam. However, that is not the case at UCLA. The school, after students complained and formed a wall in front of a display of books criticizing radical Islam, removed the books from the room.
According to the author of the books, Elan Journo, “On Feb. 1, the UCLA chapter of the Federalist Society and the Ayn Rand Institute co-sponsored a panel discussion at UCLA Law School on the vital importance of freedom of speech and the threats to it. My book shows how certain philosophic ideas undercut America’s response to the jihadist movement, including notably its attacks on freedom of speech”
However, according to the author’s account of the event, his book is not critical of Islam as a whole; in fact the author makes clear that jihadists and Muslims are not one in the same; “the book makes clear that while all jihadists are self-identified Muslims, it is blatantly false that all Muslims are jihadists. (It should go without saying, though sadly it must be said, that countless Muslims are law abiding, peaceful, productive Americans.) Unaware of the book’s full scope and substance, the students felt it had no place on campus.”
