Thursday, May 2, 1996
Despite First Amendment protection, some oppose group’s racial
advocacyBy Marie Blanchard
Daily Bruin Contributor
Some would call it exercising freedom of speech, others dismiss
it as offensive fanatical ranting. Whichever the case, zealous
speakers on campus can stir up student crowds with their sometimes
controversial messages.
"The so-called white man is a devil and will be killed by
Jesus," said Banahya, a member of the Hebrew Israelites, during a
speech on Bruin Walk two weeks ago.
Banahya is part of a group that calls themselves the Hebrew
Israelites, or the "true Jews." The international group claims all
Caucasians are destined for death or slavery in the upcoming years.
Banahya has been coming to campus up to three days a week in the
last months to preach his controversial message.
With a small following of students on campus, they preach that a
race war is imminent and that the "original Jews," which include an
assortment of people of color, will be returned to Israel where
they will rightfully rule under God.
Students watching Banahya advocate his message had mixed
reactions. While some students agreed with his message, others were
worried about the possible repercussions.
"He is influencing the way people think," said Farzin Keliddari,
an undeclared second-year student. "Students here are at the stage
of their lives where they are really starting to face oppression.
They are at an impressionable age and people like him (Banahya) who
preach hate become dangerous."
Gathering crowds of up to 150 at a time, the speaker was quoted
as saying "Hitler was cool" during Holocaust Memorial Week and "all
white men should be killed." He has angered and upset more than a
few students on campus.
"I agree with what he is saying," said first-year undeclared
student Shannon Brooks. "He gets people thinking. He diminishes
ignorance."
As a public university, UCLA is bound to the First Amendment,
which grants freedom of speech and the right to peaceably
assemble.
But in recent years, other universities across the nation have
begun to implement limitations to what is called "hate speech" on
college campuses.
At least 15 colleges and universities have adopted or are
considering restrictions on slurs directed at members of
historically disadvantaged groups or ethnic and religious
minorities, including women, homosexuals and the disabled.
Some students disagreed with speech restrictions, and felt that
groups have a right to be able to speak at college campuses.
"Exchanges of ideas and cultures are really important," said Joe
Levin, president of the Jewish Students Union.
"You learn a lot from sharing ideas," Levin added, who said that
he had spoken with Banahya several times on campus.
Yet some private universities, though not required to follow the
Constitution, enforce speech codes by choice. Universities such as
Stanford, Brown and Wisconsin reason that such codes safeguard
community sensitivity.
However, public universities such as University of Michigan have
also attempted to adopt speech codes. In the late 1980s, Michigan
tried implementing a policy that prohibited any expression that
"stigmatized or victimized an individual on the basis of race,
ethnicity, religion or gender" on the university’s campus.
The university was sued by a graduate student in 1989 on the
grounds that the policy violated freedom of speech clauses. The
court ruled that the university could not restrict speech on campus
other than expression which could incite violence.
UCLA has no formal speech code, and some said proposing one
could pose legal difficulties.
"UCLA is a public university confined to the First Amendment,
(thus) it cannot pick and choose speakers on campus," said Robert
Goldstein, a UCLA law professor."Yelling assaultive epithets in a
public place that do not present a clear and present danger is
protected under the First Amendment."
But if non-UCLA affiliated speakers come to campus, the
university can restrict them from speaking because of their lack of
campus association, Goldstein added.
Despite all the controversy concerning freedom of speech and the
various speakers who come to campus to relay a message, some
students felt that they are a vital part of what makes the
university unique.
"People like Banahya are bringing out tensions that already
exist … things that people are talking about, like race, religion
and oppression," Keliddari said. "At least at these types of
spontaneous forums, people start to talk about these issues."
FRED HE/Daily Bruin
Hebrew Israelites, like high priest Ahraya (in white) call for
death to Caucasians.