University of Wyoming Students Fight to Shut Down Dennis Prager Speech on Socialism

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Gage Skidmore/Flickr

Students at the University of Wyoming are working tirelessly this week to shut down a speech scheduled for Thursday by conservative commentator Dennis Prager.

Hunter McFarland, a student government diversity leader, has been working to shut down a speech featuring conservative commentator Dennis Prager. The event, which is scheduled for Thursday evening, is titled, “Why Socialism Makes People Selfish.”

“Fellow UWyo students and concerned community members: our ‘representatives’ on the Associated Students of the University of Wyoming RSO Funding Board and Senate recently awarded several thousands of dollars to Turning Point USA’s UW chapter to bring a racist, homophobic, xenophobic, red-baiting, anti-academic, climate denying, rape apologist to campus.,” a post on the group’s protest event page reads. “Red-baiting” refers to the harassment of those with communist sympathies.

The United Multicultural Council group at the University of Wyoming released a statement arguing that Prager’s presence on campus presents a threat to their safety. “We know the trust and safety can be a concern when it comes to law enforcement with marginalized communities, so UMC is also organizing a safety security team and plan for the event in order to ensure the well-being of protesters who would like to attend,” the statement reads.

Prager spoke to the College Fix about the planned protests.  “This event will take place as planned,” he said in a statement on his website.

“This is yet another example of the illiberal left’s attempt to shut down free speech on college campuses. Rather than simply choosing not to attend, or offering a dissenting viewpoint in an informed, respectful and courteous manner, their preferred approach is to intimidate and shut down conservative speakers,” he added.

“Liberals have always embraced the competition of ideas and believed that if their idea is the best, it will ultimately win the day. But liberalism has essentially died on American campuses – killed by leftists,” he continued. “My belief – in part because of the fact that PragerU has already garnered 500 million views this year – is that over time young Americans will come to understand the threat the left poses to all that is beautiful and good in American life. And that they will see who the real haters and bigots are.”

In a statement, University of Wyoming spokesman Chad Baldwin encouraged students attending the event to behave properly. “Those attending the event and those protesting the content of the speaker will be encouraged to remain peaceful and have courteous dialogue when given the opportunity to interact with others at the event,” Baldwin said.

 

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