The Free Speech Movement of Berkeley died today
The old Free Speech Movement at Berkeley in the mid-‘60s, fought for the right of anybody and anyone to speak on campus. We were a coalition of Trotskyites, Communists, liberals, conservatives, Cal Students for Goldwater, and the Sexual Freedom League.
We met together, ate together, protested together, and went to jail together. I was the president of Cal Students for Goldwater, and I personally spent 15 days in prison fighting for free speech, and protesting the school’s moves against it.
These people today, protesting Yiannopoulous’ speech, stood for the exact opposite. They were protesting against free speech. They silenced dissent, while the FSM (Free Speech Movement) fought for dissent. The riot I saw live streamed today was inspired by hate, intolerance for opposing views, and intellectual freedom. It was fascism in action.
Dan Rosenthal
