Pay to play

by Esther J. Cepeda

"Pregunta del Dia" translates to Question of the Day and today’s comes from R.T., a Cary, IL reader who asks

Q. "Do YOU think DePaul [University, in Chicago] should keep the Minutemen from having their speaker there Monday?"

A. He’s referring to a speech to be delivered Monday May 19 on the campus of DePaul University – the largest private University in Illinois, one of the largest private universities in this country and the largest Catholic university in the U.S., according to Wikipedia.

Let me quote from the Father Jose Landaverde and the "Comite de Marzo," a pro-illegal immigrant rights group, from their press release asking for people to join them in a 24-hour "Prayer Vigil to Stop the Hate & Racism."

"Cris Simcox who is the Minuteman Militia Corps. Leader has been invited to speak by a conservative group at DePaul University on May 19th, 2008.  Simcox is well known for his anti immigrant sentiment against Mexicans.   Simcox travels the country recruiting members and has had growing involvement in his group of racist border vigilantes.  White supremacist groups have openly recruited members for the Minuteman patrols groups like neo-Nazis from the National Alliance & Aryan Nations.  Simcox as of today refuses to acknowledge that vigilante border patrols are a haven for violent racist.  Many groups have asked the university to cancel Simcox's invitation but DePaul University refuses & say that they must allow all groups on campus exercise the right to freedom of speech."

DePaul is…absolutely 100% correct. They have allowed their students to freely exercise their right to freedom of speech in protesting Simcox, been open with the media, and offered these same freedoms to campus speakers – and campus protesters – who were similarly controversial.

But today the DePaul Conservative Alliance, which invited Simcox, is upset. DePaul is making that group pay $2,500 for security officers to make sure things don’t get out of hand between Minutemen supporters and praying protesters.

And again DePaul is…absolutely 100% correct. The Conservative Alliance knew their choice in speaker would draw opposition and went ahead with plans for a hoppin’ event. Fair enough. They should have known that the University routinely asks student groups to pay for the cost of ensuring the safety of large crowds at any on-campus event, instead they’re hurtin’ for money and blaming the protestors for their presence at the speech.

"Basically, I am paying to ensure a protest happens at my event," Nicholas Hahn, the president of the university’s Conservative Alliance told a Chicago Tribune reporter.

No, that would be your speaker fee. Nevertheless, it’s an easy fix. Just pass the hat around at the event, Conservative Alliance, your peeps will be glad to help out. It’s your right to be there and have your speaker say whatever he wants, but as with most things in life: you play, you pay.

Esther J. Cepeda writes the “600 Words” & “Pregunta del Dia” columns, and is also a Director at the Chicago-based United Neighborhood Organization. Her reporting and opinions do not necessarily reflect those of UNO. “600 words” is a registered trademark of EeJayCee, Inc., Copyright 2008. May be reprinted with permission, contact eejaycee@600words.com

Comments

[Dawn Mueller]

How about a 24-hour prayer vigil that illegal aliens will pack up and move back to the countries from which they came?

And that their harborers get indicted and sentenced with the death penalty, or life in prison, under federal law 274 INA 1324, when the next U.S. law enforcement officer is killed by an illegal alien?

My prayer beads are ready.

[Rick Biesada]

Esther, you stumped me on this one.
If De Paul's Conservative Alliance has to provide security for protestors, wouldn't that be akin to the FDIC insuring the bank robbers rather than the federal depositors... or much simpler... extortion?
First and foremost, the school should provide the security on campus. If the protestors are not welcome than they are trespassing on private property, and the Chicago Police department should be invited in to handle the situation.

The May 1st March of 2006, by the Socialist and Communist organiztions who exploited illegal aliens by using them as their spearhead, cost the tax payers of Chicago one half million dollars for police and first responder protection, according to a Chicago Sun Times news article. Surely they can spare a few dollars to keep the peace at De Paul.
Minuteman events are normally peaceful, the Minutemen are a law enforcement advocacy group... not neo Nazi's or Skin Heads as Preacher, Jose Landaverde mis characterizes.

The Minutemen have never been arrested for breaking any laws, or for violating anybodies legal rights, whereas, the Mexican Mafia, The Brown Berets,the MS13, the 18th Street Gang, La Raza, the Chicago Socialist Progressive Movement,the Illinois Coalition of Immigrants and Refugee Rights, and a myriad of other pro illegal groups who cohabit with the Comite de Marzo have, and can be duly noted in the police reports, and court proceedings.

You little devil, you've really got me stumped on this one.
If I were Nicholas Hahn, I'd have to flip a coin about what to charge the administrators of De Paul with in court. Extortion or Discrimination, in either case, what a way to start a career in law.

Rick Biesada