Fair Use Notice
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I am
making such material available in my efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic,
democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided
for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed
without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission
from the copyright owner.
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I am
making such material available in my efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic,
democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided
for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed
without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission
from the copyright owner.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Campaign for Justice
| BROWN UNIVERSITY OVERREACTS |
This is the article by former State Attorney General Arlene Violet
written in my defense.
POLI-TICKS
BY ARLENE VIOLET
BROWN UNIVERSITY OVERREACTS
At a health care forum on November 30 Representative Patrick
Kennedy to his credit told the Providence Journal that he did not
feel threatened when Christopher Young, a perennial candidate,
challenged the use of money to subsidize abortions in the health
care legislation pending in Congress. Would that the Pooh-Bahs at
Brown University , the host of the forum, felt the same way. The
University’s response to Mr. Young’s comments that evening was
a total over-reaction.
Mr. Young, a staunch pro-life advocate, had every right to bring to
the discussion his angst about taxpayer’s money being used for
abortions. To believers like him, he and the pro-life folks feel
forced to support the murder of babies. He had with him a DVD
which was a presentation which asserted that abortions
disproportionately occur among minorities which is tantamount to
eugenics. Mr. Young asked Mr. Kennedy if he wanted to view it.
The Congressman said “yes”. Young approached the stage and
tossed the DVD in front of the Congressman who retrieved it and
thanked the profferor.
When Mr. Young returned to the microphone to finish his question
(albeit a long one to be sure) he was told by the Vice President of
Public Affairs that he had 15 seconds. to wrap it up. Apparently, he
didn’t meet the time frame and officers approached Young,
dragged him out and put him on the floor as he was handcuffed.
Off to the hoosegow he went. En route he shouted that Mr.
Kennedy was not a Catholic if he would force Catholics into
funding abortions, a sentiment strikingly in sync with that of the
Bishop of this diocese, who, no doubt, would have used a softer
tone.
Now, it would be easy to dismiss this incident, particularly if the
reader is pro-choice or an admirer of all things Brown. What is the
heart of the matter, however, is that Mr. Young was voicing an
opinion which probably was a minority view on the liberal campus.
The fact that he used a raised voice (he defends his shouting by
saying he pumped up his tone as he was dragged away from the
microphone) is beside the point. Abortion is an emotional issue.
While civil discourse is always preferable to yelling, nonetheless,
seasoned politicians like Kennedy realize that the public has to
shout sometimes to be heard. Witness the earlier town meetings
on the health care reform held throughout the State where
shouting seemed to pockmark the proceedings more often than
not.
So, now, Mr. Young who has also been vocal about the need for
Brown University and other public bodies to cough up either taxes
or more money in lieu of taxes must meet a municipal court judge
on December 30. In a free society somebody who voices an
unpopular view in a strident voice at a public forum where
audience participation is encouraged shouldn’t be dragged into
court. No warning was given to this Speaker of such a dire
consequence. He was merely told that he had 15 seconds, an
admonition most people don’t take literally as opposed to shorten
your remarks. Ironically, an audience member right before him
went up to the microphone twice with rather longwinded rhetoric
with impunity. Moderators handle this eventuality often by gently
coaxing the participant to ask the question succinctly. Warnings as
to the “rules” governing the discourse are announced before the
open session of questioning. Neither approach was unequivocally
used here.
Brown University needs to make amends. It should drop the
charges. As a bastion to the First Amendment it puts itself in the
untenable position of pushing a prosecution which is the antithesis
of the First Amendment freedom of speech and freedom of
religion. It’s far better to encourage speech and unpopular views
than to punish the speaker. Dare I say it? This prosecution of
Young seems downright un-American. If the University doesn’t
come to its senses then the judge should toss the charges out.I
would suggest that the statute was “void for being vague and
indefinite,” and the disorderly conduct statute is unconstitutional
on overbreadth grounds.
written in my defense.
POLI-TICKS
BY ARLENE VIOLET
BROWN UNIVERSITY OVERREACTS
At a health care forum on November 30 Representative Patrick
Kennedy to his credit told the Providence Journal that he did not
feel threatened when Christopher Young, a perennial candidate,
challenged the use of money to subsidize abortions in the health
care legislation pending in Congress. Would that the Pooh-Bahs at
Brown University , the host of the forum, felt the same way. The
University’s response to Mr. Young’s comments that evening was
a total over-reaction.
Mr. Young, a staunch pro-life advocate, had every right to bring to
the discussion his angst about taxpayer’s money being used for
abortions. To believers like him, he and the pro-life folks feel
forced to support the murder of babies. He had with him a DVD
which was a presentation which asserted that abortions
disproportionately occur among minorities which is tantamount to
eugenics. Mr. Young asked Mr. Kennedy if he wanted to view it.
The Congressman said “yes”. Young approached the stage and
tossed the DVD in front of the Congressman who retrieved it and
thanked the profferor.
When Mr. Young returned to the microphone to finish his question
(albeit a long one to be sure) he was told by the Vice President of
Public Affairs that he had 15 seconds. to wrap it up. Apparently, he
didn’t meet the time frame and officers approached Young,
dragged him out and put him on the floor as he was handcuffed.
Off to the hoosegow he went. En route he shouted that Mr.
Kennedy was not a Catholic if he would force Catholics into
funding abortions, a sentiment strikingly in sync with that of the
Bishop of this diocese, who, no doubt, would have used a softer
tone.
Now, it would be easy to dismiss this incident, particularly if the
reader is pro-choice or an admirer of all things Brown. What is the
heart of the matter, however, is that Mr. Young was voicing an
opinion which probably was a minority view on the liberal campus.
The fact that he used a raised voice (he defends his shouting by
saying he pumped up his tone as he was dragged away from the
microphone) is beside the point. Abortion is an emotional issue.
While civil discourse is always preferable to yelling, nonetheless,
seasoned politicians like Kennedy realize that the public has to
shout sometimes to be heard. Witness the earlier town meetings
on the health care reform held throughout the State where
shouting seemed to pockmark the proceedings more often than
not.
So, now, Mr. Young who has also been vocal about the need for
Brown University and other public bodies to cough up either taxes
or more money in lieu of taxes must meet a municipal court judge
on December 30. In a free society somebody who voices an
unpopular view in a strident voice at a public forum where
audience participation is encouraged shouldn’t be dragged into
court. No warning was given to this Speaker of such a dire
consequence. He was merely told that he had 15 seconds, an
admonition most people don’t take literally as opposed to shorten
your remarks. Ironically, an audience member right before him
went up to the microphone twice with rather longwinded rhetoric
with impunity. Moderators handle this eventuality often by gently
coaxing the participant to ask the question succinctly. Warnings as
to the “rules” governing the discourse are announced before the
open session of questioning. Neither approach was unequivocally
used here.
Brown University needs to make amends. It should drop the
charges. As a bastion to the First Amendment it puts itself in the
untenable position of pushing a prosecution which is the antithesis
of the First Amendment freedom of speech and freedom of
religion. It’s far better to encourage speech and unpopular views
than to punish the speaker. Dare I say it? This prosecution of
Young seems downright un-American. If the University doesn’t
come to its senses then the judge should toss the charges out.I
would suggest that the statute was “void for being vague and
indefinite,” and the disorderly conduct statute is unconstitutional
on overbreadth grounds.