FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Americans for Free Speech
New York City
Email: whartonprotest@gmail.com
Media contact: Arvind Kumar, whartonprotest@gmail.com
WHARTON
SATYAGRAHA A RESOUNDING SUCCESS
A collection of individuals came under the banner of Americans
for Free Speech and conducted a spectacular rally on March 23rd at the
University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia to protest the violations of
the free-speech rights of students by the faculty of the university. The rally
which was referred as the “Wharton Satyagraha” attracted hundreds of people
from various places who braved the chilly weather to participate in the
protest. It was also supported by several people affiliated with the
university. Satyagraha is a way of non-violent protest that uses moral force to
insist on the truth. The word was used to describe the protests of Mahatma
Gandhi.
The Satyagraha consisted of a parade followed by a rally
outside the event conducted by the student run Wharton India Economic Forum
which had rescinded the invitation to Narendra Modi after faculty members at
the university objected to Modi as the speaker. The parade was kicked off by an
inspiring speech delivered by Satya Dosapati who drew parallels with Gandhi’s
march against salt tax and Martin Luther King’s march for civil rights. The
highlight of the parade was a memorial service conducted in remembrance of
free-speech outside the building housing the Department of English as many
protesters tied their mouths with black ribbons. As the band played funeral
music, a wreath was placed and a candle was lit in front of a headstone that
read, "In Memory of Free Speech 1776-2013. Killed at Wharton by the English
Department."
The protesters then made their way to the site of the rally to
the revolutionary tune of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Among the speakers at the
rally were Saswati Sarkar, a professor at the university, and Peter Bonilla of
the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). Professor Alan Kors,
the founder of FIRE, and former faculty member Francisco Gil-White who was
himself a victim of the university’s violation of free-speech rights sent in
statements that were read out. Professor Kors highlighted the selective
standards of the university and pointed out that the university would have come
out in favor of Muslims if they had been offended. Francisco Gil-White sent in
his statement from Mexico City. Well known activist Richard Benkin sent a
recording of his speech. All speeches and statements were repeatedly
interrupted by loud cheers and applause.
The protesters carried several placards and banners during the
Satyagraha. One placard read, “First they came for the Hindus...” while others
mocked the faculty members by portraying them as members of the “Intellectual
Al Qaeda.” A few placards highlighted the wrong claims about the 2002 Gujarat
riots with the claims rubber stamped with the word “Lie” and the words
“Professors, Don’t Lie” appearing under the highlighted claim. Still others
quoted Benjamin Franklin and the First Amendment of the American Constitution.
There were also messages supporting Narendra Modi and opposing Communism. One
banner that conveyed a poignant message was the image of Statue of Liberty
being gagged by a person with the word “UPenn” stamped on his headgear. Several
students and faculty members who did not want to openly participate in the
rally fearing retaliation from the university’s authorities walked up to the
protesters and thanked them. Many of them expressed support on Facebook and
other social media outlets.
Amy Gutmann, the president of the university, had been invited
to present her view on why she believed it was right to demonize Hindus who
participated in public affairs, but she did not show up at the event. Despite
the university being responsible for targeting Hindus, the organizers decided
to invite the president of the university as they wanted to conform to the
Hindu ethos and set an example by providing a platform for the free expression
of ideas.
“This is just the first of the Satyagrahas this country will
see,” said Prasad Yalamanchi who was one of the organizers of the protest.
Video and photos of the Wharton Satyagraha can be seen at http://whartonprotest.blogspot.com.
For more details, contact Arvind Kumar by sending an email to whartonprotest@gmail.com.
Today world troubles can be all pointed to one system. System created by saudis. Convert locals ( poor and uneducated)to islam and gIve them a book not costing more then a $1 . Book have all hate ideology and ideas and persuasion for the followers to kill who don't agree with them .Converts are made to believe a better life only after death . Be ready to and die for saudis God forget your God and destroy own nation destroy own age old civilization all old icons and die and kill.Its working as once a converts they have no way back ,they are forced within to keep them in islam or they can be killed by their own islamic brothers. System is s so bad they have already destroyed 20 ancient cultures by these converts. New converts to islam will soon destroy USA Unless we have intellectual as to stop this game of saudis. Today we have 55 islamic nations, road to destroy this world created by good people. 1.3 billions converts ready to die and kill all others
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