Thanks to Mountain States Legal Foundation taking swift action, the free speech rights of students at the University of Utah have been upheld!
On November 8, our attorneys sent a letter to the University of Utah. The University was failing to address a problem many American colleges have faced: radical left-wing students shutting down on-campus events, meetings, and conversations about conservative or libertarian ideas.
At the University of Utah, the hecklers’ target was the local Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) chapter. Using tactics such as “shout downs,” the mob repeatedly prevented YAF from screening films and holding events to raise questions and ideas about important social and political issues.
In short, the effort of these mobs was a crystal-clear example of the “heckler’s veto,” a tool wielded by anti-intellectual groups to destroy the free speech rights of others.
Unfortunately, at the University of Utah, the campus police and administration were too timid to do anything about it. They allowed threats and intimidation to flourish on campus.
Mountain States’ letter communicated that such violations of free speech would not stand. We demanded that campus security services enforce the rules against disruptive and dangerous mob actions by extremists intent on suppressing the rights of others. We also threatened to hold university administrators personally liable for damages if they failed to make significant changes.
As a result of our letter, University administration swiftly changed its tune, and stepped up to the plate to protect YAF’s free speech rights. On November 17, YAF held a march in support of Israel. On November 28 and 30, YAF successfully hosted events raising questions about transgender issues, including a film and an address by detransitioner Chloe Cole. Chloe is a prominent public speaker who frequently faces mob cancellation because she has the temerity to share her own story with gender transition, regret, and de-transition.
As a result of Mountain States’ letter, the University’s security was present and enforced the rules, ensuring that the free speech rights of YAF students were protected.
We are proud to have come to YAF’s defense, as we always seek opportunities to defeat tyranny—from government or hecklers—everywhere it is found. We hope that no further legal action is necessary against the University of Utah.
