Young Americans for Freedom at UW-Madison supports protecting the Abraham Lincoln statue on Bascom Hill. Here is our official statement:
0 Comments
University of Wisconsin-Madison Young Americans for Freedom
For immediate release. UW-Madison Young Americans for Freedom has recently been made aware of a press release issued from a Ms. Katherine Kerwin regarding our upcoming lecture event “Trigger Warning: Second Amendment Rights and Self-Defense” with journalist Katie Pavlich. The event will be on October 10 at 7pm in Psychology 107. Ms. Kerwin’s release states that our organization is creating divisions with our bringing of Ms. Pavlich and accuses us of being an alt-right group. The following addresses these claims. UW-Madison Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) advocates for freedom of speech and expression. That is why we are absolutely fine with Ms. Kerwin and the “Cocks Not Glocks” activists protesting our upcoming lecture event with Katie Pavlich. We believe that they have every right to wave sex paraphernalia in the air in opposition to guns. We hope, however, that this protest is undisruptive of our event, as we deserve the right to free speech and expression as well. If the protestors choose to enter the hall, we ask they do so quietly and respectfully, and that if they have concerns, they hold those comments until the question and answer session. YAF is not an “alt-right” group. We advocate for First Amendment rights, Second Amendment rights, and free markets. We emphasize the individual through personal liberty and responsibility. None of these characteristics cause us to be “alt-right,” which is a movement that rejects traditional conservatism and instead chooses white nationalism. YAF does not support violence, and we reject the belief that any one race is superior to another. We are bringing Ms. Katie Pavlich to speak to our campus about Second Amendment rights. While she will touch on campus carry, that is not the sole objective of her lecture, despite what Ms. Kerwin seems to think. Ms. Kerwin seems to insinuate that YAF shouldn’t bring anyone to discuss this, due to administrative disagreement, citing opposition from faculty, the UW Police Department, and our student government. YAF feels this is puerile, as we should be able to discuss relevant issues on campus, regardless of how anyone—including University officials—feels about those issues. Every individual has the freedom of speech, and as students at an esteemed university, we should be promoting intellectual diversity. We are bringing Ms. Pavlich to speak on the right we have, as stated by the Constitution, to bear arms. YAF does not feel that this topic is “divisive” at all. Women (and men as well), have the freedom to be able to protect themselves from danger with this right, if they so choose. Ms. Kerwin states that rape is a real issue. We agree. The fact that any amount of sexual assault happens is absolutely awful. Every single person in our organization condemns any individual who sexually abuses another human. YAF believes that if we educate people on their rights regarding self-defense, we can help reduce this. For more information or media inquiries regarding the Katie Pavlich event, please contact Abby Streu, UW YAF Chair at [email protected]. University of Wisconsin-Madison Young Americans for Freedom
For immediate release. Young Americans for Freedom at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is disgusted at the events of this past weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia. We, as a chapter, condemn the actions and ideologies of all fascist groups in America. We condemn the actions of white supremacist groups, Antifa, and any other group that has taken lives, injured others, or destroyed property because of their hatred for others. While we believe that everyone has the right to free speech (as long as they are not inciting violence), we do not agree with the stance that skin color determines the value of a person. We believe the opposite. We think that the character of a person matters the most (not skin color, ethnicity, race, sex, etc.). The recent events in Charlottesville have left most people in the United States in shock. All men and women are created equal, period. UW-Madison YAF members are disgusted with the violence that occurred this past week and condemn it completely. We condemn hatred and bigotry. We will not tolerate that within our chapter, and will do our best to fight for liberty and justice for every individual. For more information, please contact Abby Streu, UW YAF Chair at [email protected]. |
AuthorsArchive for important YAF, UW-Madison press releases and updates Archives
July 2020
Categories |