{"id":1432529,"date":"2022-04-12T08:45:49","date_gmt":"2022-04-12T12:45:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1432529"},"modified":"2022-04-12T08:46:01","modified_gmt":"2022-04-12T12:46:01","slug":"exclusive-after-cancellation-attempt-mike-pences-u-of-virginia-speech-will-prove-the-value-of-the-first-amendment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-after-cancellation-attempt-mike-pences-u-of-virginia-speech-will-prove-the-value-of-the-first-amendment\/","title":{"rendered":"Exclusive: After Cancellation Attempt, Mike Pence&#039;s U. of Virginia Speech Will Prove the &#039;Value of the First Amendment&#039;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">36<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fexclusive-after-cancellation-attempt-mike-pences-u-of-virginia-speech-will-prove-the-value-of-the-first-amendment%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1432529&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"subheading\">Former Vice President Mike Pence is set to speak at the University of Virginia on Tuesday evening after the school\u2019s student-run leftist newspaper, the <em>Cavalier Daily<\/em>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2022\/03\/21\/university-of-virginia-student-paper-pressures-administration-to-ban-mike-pence-from-speaking\/\">tried<\/a> to force the administration to ban the event.<\/p>\n<p>Pence is speaking at a gathering sponsored by the university\u2019s chapter of Young Americans for Freedom (YAF). Breitbart News spoke with YAF at UVA chairman Nick Cabrera as well as co-Editor-in-Chief of the<em> <a href=\"https:\/\/jeffersonindependent.com\/\">Jefferson Independent<\/a><\/em> \u2014 the student-run conservative newspaper \u2014 Will Mallas to get a gauge for the university\u2019s political climate.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s troubling that we have, you know, the main news source at the University of Virginia\u00a0saying that speech that they disagree with should not be tolerated,\u201d Cabrera said, referencing the <em>Daily\u2019s<\/em> editorial board which\u00a0recently\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2022\/03\/21\/university-of-virginia-student-paper-pressures-administration-to-ban-mike-pence-from-speaking\/\">penned<\/a>\u00a0a piece claiming Pence was \u201cdangerous\u201d and threatened student safety.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe as an Editorial Board found ourselves questioning what should be protected under the premise of \u2018diversity of thought\u2019\u00a0and more importantly, what values we choose to accept on Grounds,\u201d they wrote. \u201c<strong>For us, the answer is simple. Hateful rhetoric is violent \u2014 and this is impermissible<\/strong>.\u201d [Emphasis added].<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf\u00a0the Cavalier Daily\u2019s\u00a0editorial board comments tell us anything of substance at all, it\u2019s that they, more than anyone, need to come hear\u00a0Mike Pence speak,\u201d Cabrera continued. \u201cBeing afraid of hearing perspectives other than your own:\u00a0that sets a dangerous precedent and increases the political divide that already exists at UVA.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p><span class=\"transcript-snippet__content__body__word\">\u201cThat\u2019s why Mike Pence is having an open Q&#038;A session at the end of this speech, because he understands the values of freedom, the value of the First Amendment, and the value to discuss on differing beliefs in different perspectives,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u201cSo bringing him the grounds is really important.\u00a0It really expands on Jefferson\u2019s vision to advance human knowledge, educate leaders, and really cultivate\u00a0an informed citizenry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Mike Pence Launches $10 Million Ad Campaign Against 16 Democrats | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BreitbartNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@BreitbartNews<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fO5bmLJiYU\">https:\/\/t.co\/fO5bmLJiYU<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Mike_Pence\/status\/1500835819581497349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 7, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Since Pence\u2019s visit was scheduled, a battle over free speech has unfolded at the university.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Daily<\/em>\u2018s editorial was accompanied by several op-eds from students describing how dangerous and violent Pence\u2019s visit was. These attacks prompted several responses, including from university president Jim Ryan and 17 faculty members who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2022\/04\/05\/u-of-virginia-faculty-slams-student-paper-after-it-tried-to-ban-mike-pence-from-speaking\/\">maintained<\/a> Pence\u2019s right to speak, regardless of whether they agreed politically.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis speech-is-violence argument is not only wrong \u2014 no calls for violence will be issued April 12 \u2014 but also contradicts the letter and the spirit of the First Amendment,\u201d the faculty op-ed said, \u201cwhich generally creates space for a wide range of views to be expressed so long as the relevant speech does not incite violence.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s great to know that we have educated faculty members and educated professors, you know, just reiterating their commitment to the First Amendment,\u201d Cabrera told Breitbart News.\u00a0\u201cSo while I see dangerous tactics from the woke-left students at the university, I think it\u2019s also being counteracted by the fact that we do have many professors at this university who are committed to the First Amendment and free speech.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Jefferson Independent<\/em> responded with an editorial as well, saying the attacks on free speech did not come as a surprise.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWhat should shock the greater community, however, is the\u00a0<em>Cavalier Daily<\/em>\u2019s sanctimonious assertion that its seven-member editorial board holds the full authority to define what constitutes free speech and what doesn\u2019t,\u201d it said in part.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Independent<\/em> was also critical of the university administration, despite their overtures in favor of free speech.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe administration came out in full support of free speech and civil discourse, but only after it got heat in the national media. To me, it was really only them trying to save face after being exposed for all to see,\u201d Mallas told Breitbart News. \u201cThey can say all they want in press releases about how they want to promote free speech, but they haven\u2019t said a word when students have been smeared by other students or punished by the student-run judiciary council for believing in different things.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B4\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>Referencing another First Amendment issue at UVA involving a medical student\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2021\/04\/10\/federal-judge-rules-first-amendment-case-university-virginia-may-proceed\/\">removal<\/a> for being critical of microaggressions, Mallas said \u201cif the administration came out and apologized to these students, maybe their pro-free speech calls would carry more weight.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20623826\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/media.breitbart.com\/media\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1371197943.jpg\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>File\/A message in chalk is written on the ground as Stanford students stage a protest outside of Dinkelspiel Auditorium where former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to speak at the Advancing Freedom Lecture Series at Stanford University on February 17, 2022 in Stanford, California. His address is titled \u201cHow to Save America From the Woke Left.\u201d (Justin Sullivan\/Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>As the<em> Jefferson Independent<\/em> pointed out, the climate on Grounds is such that the <em>Daily<\/em>\u2018s editorial board feels fully protected espousing its anti-free speech rhetoric, whereas conservative students are often \u201cafraid to speak their mind,\u201d according to Cabrera.<\/p>\n<p>Mallas told Breitbart News he overheard students talking about the Pence event in a way that displays how it is \u201cforbidden \u2026 for regular students to say something that might even hint at validating someone who isn\u2019t a leftist.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t even think him being allowed to come here and speak needed to be something we have to debate over, but now we\u2019re supposed to thoughtfully consider cancelling?\u201d the students apparently said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe even have students who write for the Jeff that ask for their articles to be published under pen names because they don\u2019t want their classmates, professors, or coaches to see,\u201d Mallas continued. \u201cIf so many students don\u2019t feel comfortable giving their opinion, then obviously something must be wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cabrera had a similar sentiment, telling Breitbart News conservatives on Grounds are \u201cafraid of the repercussions they may endure for expression their opinions,\u201d continuing that the <em>Daily<\/em> \u201cknows and understands that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He believes the <em>Daily<\/em> likely did not expect such a backlash to their radical view, because \u201cbig tech and big media\u00a0spreading lies about conservatives has become commonplace throughout the United States of America, especially on college campuses. And\u00a0the Cav Daily\u00a0is one of those examples\u00a0that\u2019s taking advantage of\u00a0students becoming relatively complicit with what the media is telling them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"transcript-snippet__content__body__word\">For Cabrera, the goal is to \u201cpromote open dialogue\u201d and put on display the virtue of the First Amendment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>But the playing field remains unequal to conservatives at UVA.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20623835\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/media.breitbart.com\/media\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1236925594.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-20623835\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1236925594-1024x684-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"990\" height=\"661\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>File\/Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on November 30, 2021. (BASTIEN INZAURRALDE\/AFP via Getty)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not every day that conservative speakers like Mike Pence are invited to the\u00a0University and if it wasn\u2019t for Young Americans for\u00a0Freedom at UVA,\u00a0people like him\u00a0wouldn\u2019t be brought to campus,\u201d Cabrera told Breitbart News.\u00a0\u201cYou know, we saw the\u00a0University pay $33,000\u00a0to bring\u00a0critical\u00a0race theorist Ibram Kendi\u00a0to the\u00a0University, and you know, didn\u2019t even bring him to the university \u2014 he was on a\u00a0Zoom call for about a couple hours.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen we asked if they could pay for the venue, which is about just under $1,000, we were declined funding,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u201cSo it just shows where the priorities are at the\u00a0University.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI came to UVA because of its history \u2013 intellectual curiosity and debate are at the core of it\u2019s founding,\u201d Mallas told Breitbart News. \u201cYou can see that just by walking on the Lawn where students live next to professors and chat on the rocking chairs. And figures like JFK, MLK, the Queen, Reagan, now Mike Pence, come to UVA for a reason. They understand that it carries contextual importance in American history, back to the founding.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI respect the administration\u2019s commitment to upholding free speech, but I wouldn\u2019t say free speech is \u2018alive and well\u2019 as President Ryan has claimed,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n<p>As for the future of the <em>Jefferson Independent<\/em>, which was founded last year, Mallas told Breitbart News the goal is to counter the narrative of the <em>Cavalier Daily<\/em>, which has been the university\u2019s primary student newspaper since 1890.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe <em>Cavalier Daily<\/em> is pretty good at immediately labeling any alternate opinion as totally unworthy of consideration, so we want to actually generate discussions about certain topics that I think a lot of students might actually want to learn more about,\u201d he said. \u201cI think the void in coverage during Covid was really the main factor for starting the Jeff. The <em>Cav Daily<\/em> was arguing every day that we should stay locked down and everyone should be tested more and more and dining halls and gyms should be closed. It even urged the administration to require teachers to offer hybrid classes and mandate weekly testing just last fall. I don\u2019t think those kinds of arguments were actually representative of most students.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Jeff was really the only voice on Grounds saying \u2018we want to be in class again,&#8217;\u201d he concluded. \u201cAnd we were the only ones asking real questions about the motives behind all the Covid policies. While we are right-leaning, the main goal is to start a conversation. It\u2019s less about wanting to convince you of one side and saying the other side is totally wrong, and more about making it known that other opinions actually exist, and deserve to be heard.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Breccan F. Thies<\/em>\u00a0<em>is a reporter for Breitbart News. You can follow him on Twitter\u00a0<a title=\"This external link will open in a new window\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BreccanFThies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@BreccanFThies<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former Vice President Mike Pence is set to speak at the University of Virginia on Tuesday evening after the school\u2019s student-run leftist newspaper, the Cavalier Daily, tried to force the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":179,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1432529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1432529","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/179"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1432529"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1432529\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1432529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1432529"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1432529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}