From this it might be gathered that YAL believes that some forms of free speech are freer than others.
In fact, these and other instances of YAL's apparent selectivity about who gets to speak about what and when would suggest a less-than-principled stance on the issue of freedom of expression. It may even be argued that YAL's claim to protect such constitutional liberties as free speech gives it the rhetorical cover to advance a hidden agenda of homophobia, misogyny, racism, and classism.
So how did YAL arrive at this sad offering to UCSB's intellectual community?
Amid the controversy following the failed attempt to establish a White Student Union on campus (itself a reaction to the Black Lives Matter movement), the Young Americans for Liberty was formed with the stated goal to protect free speech and openness to ideas. But with such edifying contributions as "How the Left Exploits Transgender Laws" and "Feminism is Cancer"- not to mention a giant "free speech" beach ball periodically rolled through campus - YAL has succeeded in creating a circus-like atmosphere that allows it to badger anyone who falls outside its circle of elite, white, male heteronormativity.
Milo taunted Mexicans, blacks, leftists, and the LGBTQ community in almost equal measure and with a wink and nod to the Men's Rights Movement that Rodger subscribed to, Milo also normalized continued attacks on feminists.
At the end of the day, the Feminism is Cancer talk hosted by YAL and the self-styled "most fabulous supervillian on the internet", Milo Yanniopoulos, has brought bare-knuckled troll politics to UCSB.
So on May 23rd, while we commemorate the six students slain by a madman suffering from ideational hatred for women and non-whites, YAL has succeeded in legitimating the eerie ghost of Elliot Rodger.
On May 26th, he could almost be seen hovering at the fringes of the crowd in UCSB's Corwin Pavilion.
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