Campus, News

Student shows support for Milo Yiannopoulos

As dozens of students passed the campus bookstore at Cal State Long Beach on Monday, one stood frozen for hours, holding a sign in support of conservative commentators Milo Yiannopoulos and Ben Shapiro.

ā€œI’m here to stand up for the rights of free speech,ā€ said Jose Espinoza, religious studies major. ā€œPeople on college campuses always want to to censor individuals like Milo [Yiannopoulos] and [Ben] Shapiro.ā€

Espinoza said he feels that there are different interpretations of hate speech and as long as someone doesn’t use their words to target a specific person, it’s their right as a U.S. citizen to voice their opinion.

However, some CSULB students see Yiannopoulos in a different light.

ā€œI disagree with [Yiannopoulos], you should never say something to hurt someone else,ā€ said Gabriella Torres-Ortega, a freshman studying chemistry.

Espinoza said he will be attending the Milo Yiannopoulos event at Cal State Fullerton tomorrow and would like to see a conservative speaker come to CSULB.

ā€œA lot of students are passionate about shutting him down,ā€ Espinoza said. ā€œJust because Milo speaks out against feminists and other groups, who’s to say it’s hate speech.ā€

According to Espinoza, the College Republican chapter and conservative student group Turning Point has been working to bring either Shapiro or Yiannopoulos to campus in the future.

ā€œIf [Yiannopoulos] were to come here I’d want to get away from the area,ā€ said Torres-Ortega. ā€œIt would make me feel very uncomfortable.ā€

Espinoza said he hopes that the university will welcome more conservative speakers onto campus.

ā€œI’m not looking for a spotlight or 15 minutes of fame,ā€ Espinoza said. ā€œI’m just standing up for what I believe in.ā€

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