Get the sense that we talk about on-campus harassment and intimidation differently when the subjects are Jewish students?
In 2017, an anonymous jerk put flyers with a Confederate flag and cotton around American University's campus. They read "Huzzah for Dixie" or similar.
🧵
In 2017, an anonymous jerk put flyers with a Confederate flag and cotton around American University's campus. They read "Huzzah for Dixie" or similar.
🧵
2/ The university went into emergency response mode, treating these flyers as a criminal threat. It published CCTV video and immediately asked the public for help in identifying the man who posted the racist flyers.
https://twitter.com/AmericanUPolice/status/913035413266337793
3/ An APB - called "CRIME ALERT" - went out for his arrest.
/3
/3
https://x.com/AmericanUPolice/status/913032275713040384
4/ The @nytimes covered the incident.
The words "free speech" don't appear in the article. No one considered the idea that these racist flyers represent protected speech.
No organizations or talking heads rushed to defend the poster's speech rights.
nytimes.com/2017/09/27/us/…
The words "free speech" don't appear in the article. No one considered the idea that these racist flyers represent protected speech.
No organizations or talking heads rushed to defend the poster's speech rights.
nytimes.com/2017/09/27/us/…
5/NYT:
"This is at least the second time this year that racist symbols were discovered on the school’s campus. In May, bananas were found hanging from nooses on campus...The F.B.I. said at the time that it was helping the university investigate."
NOTE: The FBI was called.
"This is at least the second time this year that racist symbols were discovered on the school’s campus. In May, bananas were found hanging from nooses on campus...The F.B.I. said at the time that it was helping the university investigate."
NOTE: The FBI was called.
6/ The University President issued this statement:
“I ask you to join me in standing together and show that we will not be intimidated,” she said. “AU will respond strongly to attempts designed to harm and create fear... When one of us is attacked, all of us are attacked.”
“I ask you to join me in standing together and show that we will not be intimidated,” she said. “AU will respond strongly to attempts designed to harm and create fear... When one of us is attacked, all of us are attacked.”
7/ But what about free speech? Maybe the pendulum is swinging back, and campuses are now becoming places where you can call for the death of Jews, display insulting depictions of the Prophet Muhammed, hang Confederate flags and use the 'N-word' without repercussions?
No way.
No way.
8/ Campus speech is as restrictive as it has ever been.
There are simply two sets of rules on American campuses. One for the favored: anything resembling intimidation and harassment here is punished instantly.
There are simply two sets of rules on American campuses. One for the favored: anything resembling intimidation and harassment here is punished instantly.
9/ A second standard exists for the disfavored. Intimidation and harassment of the disfavored are loudly defended as free speech.
Jewish students fall into the latter category.
Jewish students know it.
We all know it.
Jewish students fall into the latter category.
Jewish students know it.
We all know it.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
