More Penn State groups lend voices to growing opposition against speech by Milo Yiannopoulos
After an early deluge of opposition to an upcoming Penn State campus speech by Milo Yiannopoulos, a controversial right-wing personality accused of hate speech against various groups, more student groups have added their voices to the growing chorus denouncing his appearance — including one student organization putting together a protest.
Students Against Sexist Violence, which organized an unrelated protest last month with more than 100 supporters, announced late Tuesday night it will hold a protest opposing the Yiannopoulos event. The protest will start at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 at Shortlidge and Pollock roads, near Thomas building, the venue where Yiannopoulos’ “Pray the Gay Away” event will kick off at 8 p.m. later that night.
“We call upon all progressive students, faculty, staff and community members to unite and meet in person at this time and location in order to directly oppose Milo and this regressive event,” the group said in a tweet.
Students have called for the university to cancel the event. But because the speech was organized by a student group, Uncensored America, the university does not have the power to do so. In a statement Monday night, several university officials denounced the event while explaining the First Amendment prohibits them from putting a stop to it.
But that hasn’t prevented some impassioned students from trying to do just that.
An online petition started Monday by Penn State student Jacob Ehrbaker has already garnered more than 8,500 signatures from people calling for the event’s cancellation and for posters in the HUB-Robeson Center to be taken down. (The posters were removed by Tuesday afternoon but, according to a university spokesperson, they were only “removed to allow the student organization, Uncensored America, to list the correct information including its sponsorship of the event.”)
Several past Yiannopoulos appearances at other college campuses have been canceled, but most of those cancellations came from the group that organized the event. In Penn State’s case, Uncensored America has so far shown no desire to do that and doubled down again Wednesday.
“The erosion of free speech in this practical sense is why we believe it is absolutely necessary to bring commentator and comedian Milo Yiannopoulos to campus,” Uncensored America said in a written statement. “As one of the most banned, censored and canceled men in the world, he is the ultimate free speech martyr.”
The Anti-Defamation League has referred to Yiannopoulos as “a misogynistic, racist, xenophobic, transphobic troll.” He was permanently banned from Facebook and Twitter, forced to resign from far-right outlet Breitbart for pedophilia-related comments, and he married his boyfriend in 2017 before announcing earlier this year he is ex-gay. He now promotes “conversion therapy,” which is outlawed in 14 states and denounced by dozens of national organizations, such as the American Medical Association.
Penn State Thon, the organization that raises funds to fight childhood cancer, also released a statement Wednesday from its official Twitter account in solidarity with the LGBTQ community.
“We oppose the recent announcement of an event at Penn State promoting anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and stand with our volunteers, supporters, alumni and community members who identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community,” the statement read.
Thon also endorsed another late-night event on the same day as the Yiannopoulos event, called “Love is Louder.” The event, organized in response to Yiannopoulos, is hosted by Penn State’s Conrad Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity. It will take place from 6-10 p.m. Nov. 3 at Heritage Hall and will feature “music, food and activities to inspire love and community within the Penn State student body.”
The group Students Against Sexist Violence explicitly asked students to attend their protest instead of the “Love is Louder” event.
“We also condemn the university’s attempts to host an event called ‘Love is Louder’ which is intended to allow Milo to speak without opposition,” read a statement from the group. “Instead of attending this university event designed to enable Milo, we call for all students who are able to attend this protest instead.”
Tuesday night and Wednesday’s comments come on the heels of the event’s condemnation by the University Park Undergraduate Association, several LGBTQ groups and university administrators.
Lion PRIDE co-presidents Josh Bannon and Cydney Howard told the CDT on Tuesday they’re “very upset” with the event and fear for students’ safety. But they said they also realize the reality of the situation.
“We understand that as a public university, there is only so much Penn State can do about the event, due to the protection of freedom of speech,” the two said in a joint statement. “We are glad that Penn State University has released a statement denouncing the event. We are currently working with university staff and administration to ensure the safety of all students, especially those who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community.”
