It’s not just conservatives who are up in arms about DePaul University’s decision to ban Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief Ben Shapiro from speaking; leftists and Democrats are now defending Shapiro’s right to speak:
As WTTW in Chicago reported:
The DePaul College Democrats expressed support for Shapiro speaking on campus, highlighting the difference between Shapiro and [Milo] Yiannopoulos. “Mr. Yiannopoulos was brought to campus to provoke violence and damage the DePaul community. By harassing students both online and in person, Milo disrespected DePaul’s mission and values and abused his position. Milo Yiannopoulos and Ben Shapiro share many opinions and credentials but it is important to recognize the difference between the two. While we would be hard pressed to find common ground with Mr. Shapiro, our democracy demands that we listen to what he has to say.”
Meanwhile, Cenk Uygur, host of The Young Turks, also attacked DePaul for it decision, and also distinguished between Shapiro, whom he said is “earnestly trying to present his conservative position,” and Yiannopoulos, whom he called a “troll,” adding that he was just “doing it just for the spotlight.”
Uygur stated:
Ben Shapiro’s a conservative; I don’t agree with him on almost anything, and he’s taken me on in the past, bless his heart, and some of his positions are perfectly normal, they’re conservative positions, I understand …some of them are a little beyond the pale, if you ask me … he’s had his moments of principle, as well; he recently left Breitbart when they mishandled the Michelle Fields situation.
He was apparently invited to speak at DePaul, and that invitation has now been withdrawn … I’m with him on this issue. You gotta let him speak. I know some the arguments are students funds are used, we don’t want our funds going to conservatives who will have these obnoxious opinions, terrible opinions … I know, but at the same time, we all invite speakers, if we start nitpicking each others’ speakers, “I don’t want you to spend money on that, I don’t want you to spend money on that, then we’re never gonna have any speakers, or we’re only gonna have speakers that are preapproved. I don’t want to live in that world.
“I think he’s earnestly trying to present his conservative position.”
Cenk Uygur, on Ben Shapiro
Uygur quoted Shapiro stating, “This is how free speech dies: when people in power cave to the bullies rather than standing up for basic rights.” Uygur grudgingly admitted, “There is an element of truth in that.”
Uygur acknowledged, “I know there are trolls in the world; I actually don’t think Shapiro’s one of them. I think he’s earnestly trying to present his conservative position … He’s a different category from a troll, and you know who those guys are; they’re just looking for attention. They don’t really mean it. I think Ben Shapiro’s an actual conservative; some of those flamboyant actors on the conservative side, and I literally mean actors, are doing it just for the spotlight … One of those trolls was also blocked from speaking at DePaul … you gotta understand something: if you block the Shapiros of the world, they get legitimately upset because they want to share their opinions. If you block the trolls of the world, they’re excited; they’re nearly ecstatic, they’re like, “More attention! And I get to play the victim!”