Conservative Speaker Loses Venue At SFSU Days After Athlete Was Attacked For Defending Women’s Sports

In the latest war on free speech, San Francisco State University (SFSU) revoked the venue for a speech by conservative journalist, Jon Root, days before the event was scheduled to take place. Root was set to deliver a talk entitled “How Wokeness Is Destroying America,” which would have highlighted how “the religion of wokeness has ruined sports, culture, and the church.”

Root and former collegiate swimmer, Riley Gaines, both oppose males who self-identify as transgender from participating in women’s sports leagues, noting the physical harm and competitive disadvantages such policies inflict on female athletes.

Gaines was attacked by leftist students at SFSU earlier this month for sharing her stance on prohibiting men from competing in women’s sports. This incident has sparked heated debates on the issue of biological males identifying as women and participating in female sports. Administrators issued a statement claiming that the student demonstrators “peacefully” expressed their views, even though police barricaded Gaines in a room for several hours as students debated whether she should be allowed to leave campus. Gaines reported on social media that she was “ambushed and physically hit twice by a man” as she attempted to leave after her speech.

Gaines’ attack occurred just days before Root’s speech, which many believe to be the cause of the university’s sudden change of heart. SFSU informed Turning Point USA, who were hosting the event, that the room booked for the event had been revoked, and accommodations would only be made for a virtual event. University administrators warned that the event should be understood to be unapproved by the administration if the students appeared on the public university’s campus and attempted to host the discussion.

Although it is yet unclear if the move was deliberate censorship, the timing of the decision is highly suspicious. However, it is evident that free expression in American colleges has come under increasing threat in recent years. Conservative academics and students report pressure to self-censor and experience overt instances of censorship that infringe upon their constitutional rights.

This incident raises concerns about the future of free speech in America and the growing liberalism of college campuses. The Left’s ideologically-driven policies, which support the transgender movement and welcome diversity except for those with differing beliefs, are harmful and at odds with American values of free speech and equality. Unfortunately, student activism, which embraces censorship as a means to silence opposing views, has become the norm on many campuses across the country.

This move by SFSU also raises the age-old question of whether people are truly free to express their opinions. Those with conservative views are constantly vilified and told that they are not allowed to express their beliefs. This is an untenable situation, and universities must be a place where freedom of expression, diversity of thought, and the search for truth are supported, not condemned.

The situation begs the question: have we lost the ability as a society to listen to opposing viewpoints? It is more important than ever to engage in open dialogue, as the opposition of free speech only leads to conflict and division. The key to resolving disputes and bridging divides is meaningful conversation and a genuine willingness to listen and learn from one another.

Regardless of the university’s reasons for revoking the event space, this incident is further proof that conservative voices are being silenced in the halls of academia. Preventing an individual from expressing their opinion infringes upon their First Amendment right and sets a dangerous precedent for the future of free speech in America. It is essential that universities remain an environment that supports independent thinking and the free exchange of ideas that challenge the established narrative.

In conclusion, this situation has raised concerns over the future of free speech in America and the question of whether universities welcome diversity and freedom of thought. It is time for universities to uphold the values of liberty and respect the rights of individuals to their opinions rather than suppress them.