Leftist Violence at Butler University

- From the desk of David Horowitz -



Dear Supporter:

The left is upping the ante in the battle for academic fairness with a wave of violence against conservative speakers on college campuses.

On Wednesday evening, April 6, at Butler University I was physically assaulted by a group of leftists as I prepared to speak about the need for academic freedom …

I’m writing to tell you two things:
1. I will not be intimidated by student thugs or radical professors who believe violence will keep us off their campuses;

2. Our National Campaign for Academic Freedom is working! It’s gaining notice and gathering momentum at such a pace, in fact, that leftists are resorting to near-guerilla tactics to silence us!


Before I tell you about the incident at Butler University, let me tell you how important your support has been to this Campaign. Your steadfast commitment to this cause is nothing short of courageous. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Because it is abundantly clear -- as more and more college and university administrations begin to understand our message and hear our call for them to embrace our Academic Bill of Rights -- the left is absolutely terrified we’re are succeeding.

The assault on me by a group of four leftist students at Butler is testimony to the fact that our National Campaign for Academic Freedom is making sense not only to state legislators and school administrators …

… it is reaching the ears of the students who are quickly realizing what you and I’ve been saying: they’re only getting half of the story, the left’s story.

So today I’m asking you to keep the pressure on the schools, the professors, the administrations, state and local leaders and other who we need to join in us in our fight for genuine academic freedom …

… make a special contribution of $100 or at least $50 right now by clicking on this link and supporting our National Campaign for Academic Freedom. https://www.donationreport.com/init/controller/ProcessEntryCmd?key=O4V7H6X3Z4

Let me tell you what happened on that night in Indianapolis, Indiana. As I stepped to the podium, facing a largely leftwing audience, a group of four students -- juvenile delinquents, really -- rushed the stage and slammed a chocolate cream pie into my face.

Fortunately my glasses weren’t broken. Republican students caught and had arrested three of the students -- including a female who spewed racial epithets at Butler professor Marvin Scott, a good friend of mine and yours in this battle, and the Republican candidate for Senate in last November’s election.

There was nothing comedic about it. This attack was one in an increasing string of violence against conservative speakers. Ann Coulter, William Kristol and Pat Buchanan have suffered similar assaults as well in recent weeks.

Additionally, leftists have started attacking armed services and Homeland Security recruiters at campus job fairs in an effort to silence them, too.

Let me assure you that this type of thuggish behavior is being encouraged by radical faculties that regularly deride conservatives and conservative students, expressing their bilious hatred of President Bush in the classroom that is tacitly condoned by school administrations that tolerate these acts!

This is precisely what you and I are fighting against! These students and their academic consorts are underscoring our point -- and they’ve taken to violence in response to the success of our National Campaign for Academic Freedom!

How do I know we’re gaining momentum? First, there is the growing number of Students for Academic Freedom chapters on campuses across the country -- chapters you’ve helped create by supporting CSPC. There has been a wave of media attention on our campaign; on talk radio shows and in hundreds of newspaper articles appearing across the country; we have grabbed the attention of every single University in the country. Next, there is the increase of calls to CSPC from state leaders wanting to know about our Academic Bill of Rights and how they can apply it to their schools. …

… but most telling, I think, was the heartfelt apology from Butler University President Dr. Bobby Fong I received following the April 6th assault. Dr. Fong told me that contrary to what the mainstream media reports, there is widespread support in the academic community for our Academic Bill of Rights. Our opposition consists mainly of radical ideologues.

So putting this sad spate of violence aside for a moment, Dr. Fong’s words should lift our spirits and power us on. And now, as the public begins to learn more about these assaults, is the time renew our efforts.

Please help me again right now. Make a contribution of $100 or even $200 if possible today to our National Campaign for Academic Freedom. And please know how grateful everyone at the Center is for your commitment.
https://www.donationreport.com/init/controller/ProcessEntryCmd?key=O4V7H6X3Z4

Sincerely,


David Horowitz

P.S. There should be ZERO tolerance for this type of thuggery against campus speakers whether they are Pat Buchanan or Noam Chomsky! But leftists on campuses don’t feel that way, so we must continue to press our case for an Academic Bill of Rights for our colleges and universities from coast to coast. Please know that whatever support you can offer again to our National Campaign for Academic Freedom will be put to immediate use. The Center has set a budget of $3.25 million for this year and a large part of that will be devoted to growing grassroots support for this campaign. Thanks again.

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