Suppression of free speech at University of Maryland

The dreaded "hate speech" label is being applied to an advertisement from the group FLAME on Islam and anti-semitism and students are up in arms over the perceived hateful message in it. The problem is, as usual that there is nothing false in the ad, so students must resort to

demonization and name-calling to try and suppress free speech of something they don't approve of.

It's an old game, played with great effectiveness by the left and those who see Islam and Muslims as a victim, forever to be protected and embraced.

You can find the original FLAME ad here.

From Diamondback Online November 10 by Leah Villanueva

SGA votes to condemn Diamondback advertising department

In a unanimous vote Wednesday night, the SGA joined a newly formed coalition of students in condemning The Diamondback's advertising department for running a controversial ad last month that several students referred to as "hate speech."

The Student Government Association resolution — which passed 24-0 with three abstentions — called on the department to make a formal apology to the student body for the publication of an advertisement called "You deserve a factual look at … Muslim Arab Anti-Semitism" for the Facts and Logic About the Middle East organization in the newspaper Oct. 19. The resolution also calls for the advertising department to refrain from publishing FLAME ads in the future.

Blatant censorship of a message you don't like.

After the ad's publication, outraged students formed the End Hate Speech at UMD coalition, and two members of the group met with two Maryland Media Inc. — the private company that owns The Diamondback — officials and Diamondback editor in chief Lauren Redding last week.

MMI General Manager Michael Fribush offered to provide free advertising space, which MMI has never done before, to print a rebuttal advertisement or for the group to publish a guest column or letter on The Diamondback's opinion page.

But Osama Eshera, who is a member of End Hate Speech at UMD and attended last week's meeting, said the group will decline the offer. While End Hate Speech at UMD appreciated the gesture, the group wants the advertising department to issue a formal apology, to refuse to publish FLAME ads in the future. They group also hopes to foster a conversation about hate speech across the campus.

How do you have a conversation about hate speech if you exclude a point of view pertinent to the discussion?

"This is about getting the campus more involved and getting the message out to students and faculty to understand the issue and having their opinions and stances heard on the issue," said junior bioengineering major Eshera, who is also a Diamondback columnist. "That creates a true discussion of these ideas and not just a statement."

However, Fribush said in an interview yesterday that he will not consider writing a formal apology, notingSGA legislators had not reached out to MMI to hear the company's reasons for publishing the advertisement.

"I'm a little disappointed the SGA voted on this," Fribush said. "They only heard one side. They didn't hear both sides."

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