UPDATE!!

ACLU of Wisconsin commends UWM for its decision to rescind the fees and respect freedom of speech on campus!

ACLU of WISCONSIN DEFENDS WALID
SHOEBAT’S RIGHT
TO SPEAK AT UW-MILWAUKEE 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 29, 2007

The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin Foundation responded today to reports that the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee had imposed a $2,500 fee on a UWM student group as a condition of permission to bring a controversial speaker to campus. UWM officials justified the fee imposed on the Conservative Union as a way to defray the costs of ecurity needed to handle protesters opposed to views expressed by Walid Shoebat, who has criticized Islam in sometimes demeaning and inflammatory terms. The ACLU wrote to UWM officials criticizing the fee as a form of a “heckler’s veto” that violates the First Amendment’s Free Speech guarantee. Additional security needs created by the possible actions of opponents of Mr. Shoebat cannot justify imposing these costs on those supporters who want to bring him to UWM to speak. – end –

  Press Release in .pdf
  ACLU letter to UWM