[Jyqm]

Originally Posted by irishgrl

Maybe I missed this, did the article say that the protestors were from that group? I thought it was just a hodge-podge of people who just plain dont like Ann Coulter? Possibly it was the Students Against Hate that hired her in the first place since that would be in keeping with their mission statement? Then again, with Ann Coulter's track record of negativity, Im surprised such a group would even consider her to be a speaker (if in fact they did hire her to speak)

No, take a look at the original article again:

Coulter's appearance prompted protests from several student groups. About 100 people rallied outside the auditorium where she spoke, saying she spread a message of intolerance.

"We encourage diverse opinion at UConn, but this is blatant hate speech," said Eric Knudsen, a 19-year-old sophomore journalism and social welfare major who heads campus group Students Against Hate.

They certainly were not the ones who booked her. Actually, here's an article from the UConn student paper that confirms something I suspected: this Students Against Hate group was invented specifically in response to Coulter's speech. (Although comparing the two articles, it's a little unclear whether the Students Against Hate kids were protesting, holding an alternative event somewhere else, or both.)

http://www.dailycampus.com/media/pap...ailycampus.com

'Stop The Hate' Provides Alternative to Coulter's Speech
By: Connie Yan
Issue date: 12/8/05

As students lined up around Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts to see Ann Coulter's latest speech, many were sitting inside the Student Union Theater at Stop The Hate 2005.

Queers United Against Discrimination (QUAD), the Puerto Rican/Latin American Cultural Center, the Rainbow Center and Students Against Hate sponsored the event as an alternative event to the Coulter speech.

Students Against Hate is an organization that formed as a result of Coulter's first appearance at UConn.

"Mainly our goal was to throw this counter Coulter event," said Samantha Harrigan, a 3rd-semester pre-communications major and a member of the organization.

"We're really trying to deter people from going," Harrigan said as students handed out fliers instructing people to walk out of the Coulter speech at 7:45 p.m.

Media buzz is stronger than ever, as the controversy surrounding the Coulter speech brought in the Associated Press, ABC, Fox and more.

The event included speakers from the UConn community sharing their experiences with discrimination and hate, even in today's society.

The message of alumni and current UConn students was not to be anti-Republican or anti-religion. Chris Albert, a graduate student, is a Christian and a marine. He feels that people like Coulter threaten the three most important things to him - God, his country and his family. He feels Coulter's opinions are an example of "false patriotism."

Albert said he will not be attending Coulter's speech because "she has nothing to offer me," and encourages everyone else to do the same. Albert also encourages not to relay hate messages towards her.

"She wants you to heckle her," he said.

The event attracted not only the attention of the media, but also that of local politicians. Although they were unable to attend, State Rep. Denise W. Merrill and Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLaura sent letters and wishes.

This event is a "demonstration of democracy," DeLaura said in her letter.

Jerome Smith, UConn alumni and the chief of staff for the Boston city counselor, shared his experiences of being a minority, both ethnic and sexual orientation wise, at the event.

"I constantly had to struggle," Smith said. This struggle caused Smith to be depressed and on the verge of suicide. After coming out to his family, he felt "finally for once I had put my two worlds together."

Smith's story encourages acceptance of others and for one's own self. In addition to sharing his story, Smith had planned to quote Coulter for the audience, but decided to spare the audience because "Ann Coulter's quotes aren't original," Smith said.

Member of the Muslim Student Association Ali Langston determined that "ignorance is something that divides us as a people." In encouraging diversity and unity, he shared with the audience some background on the Islam religion, and how different it is from the terrorist group al-Qaida. Since the 9/11 attack, the media has given Islam a negative connotation, according to Langston, which could not be further from the truth.

"Islam is a word that means peace," Langston said
Speaker Hana Kim, a 5th-semester sociology and psychology major, brought attention to racism and bigotry present on the UConn campus. She was brought to tears when recalling an event that took place outside of McMahon residence halls. Although the act was not violent, she was "being objectified using language," Kim said.

As an Asian American, she feels that "when people look at me they see these features and they assume certain things."
The words of Kim, Smith, Langston and Albert were not the only ones heard. An Open Mic session allowed audience members to voice their opinions and reactions to the event.

Stop The Hate 2005's main message was to discourage students from supporting hate speeches from Coulter, who Smith referred to as "one of the leading bigots in the United States."