Your Assignment
In recent years, many colleges across the nation have been forced to “disinvite” already scheduled speakers to appear on campuses. These instances have arisen after student body members expressed concerns that the individuals’ speeches would promote and publicize divisive “hate speech,” perhaps leading to protests that could turn violent. Some believe that this phenomenon is simply a form of freedom of speech and expression on the part of the students to prevent the speeches; others view the incidents as a violation of our country’s tradition of free speech.

In a well-written paragraph, develop your position on whether or not prohibition of such speech is beneficial or harmful to a functioning democracy. In supporting your claim, use appropriate evidence from at least two scholarly and credible sources.

Some credible and scholarly sources you may choose to use (you can also research your own):

The ACLU’s website on free speech on campus
This NPR article covering Milo Yiannopoulos’ “dis-invitation” at Berkeley
This American Association of University Professor’s article on free speech on campus
This article from the American Bar Association on current challenges in defining and defending free speech
You will submit your completed paragraph along with a Works Cited page listing your two sources. Make sure your sources are also credited in the body of your response.