First and foremost the Black Student Organization aligns support to all student organizations affected by this issue, especially other students of color organizations. We empathize with the offensiveness of the racist and xenophobic rhetoric and actions upheld by the Minutemen. As students of color on this campus that have felt such offense before, we believe it necessary to support other students of color when they are personally and culturally attacked. We also believe that the right to Free Speech is an important question to ask about this event and our University community. However we know this is not the only question. We are especially concerned with the rights of students to personal safety and freedom from violence committed upon them by any visitor or member of this University community. No matter how disobedient the non-violent actions of the protestors, no one deserves to be physically attacked or assaulted. We are disappointed that the University administration was not more proactive in protecting the physical safety of its students.

We are upset with the manner in which the Columbia College Republicans organized their speaker event. This event did not use the right to Free Speech responsibly to create a space for dialogue. Instead this event intended to foster prejudice against Mexican migrants and Muslims. Moreover the media response and popular discourse on campus has sadly silenced the real issues at hand, the debates around exclusion of immigrant populations and the right to citizenship for people living and working in this country illegally.

We reiterate our support of other students of color organizations, and are committed to building strong relationships and dialogue between all students through our own work and in collaborations.