Recently, the College Republicans at San Francisco State have been the victims of lies and slander perpetrated by our student government, school newspaper and other radical campus organizations. We have been charged with “acts of incivility” and “attempts to incite violence” because of our actions at a recent on-campus event. An overview of the facts, however, shows that the College Republicans were well within their rights during our now famous Anti-Terrorism Rally.

On October 17th, our group held an anti-terrorism rally where we stood upon the flags of Hezbollah and Hamas, two terrorist organizations. This action created a strong reaction from some SF State students, along with several members of the General Union of Palestinian Students (GUPS) and the International Socialist Organization (ISO). The GUPS argued that the name of Allah, which is inscribed upon the Hamas and Hezbollah flags, was sacred and that we were committing sacrilege.

Stepping on the flags of Hezbollah and Hamas is no more “hate speech” against Islam than stepping on the Swastika-emblazoned flag of Nazi Germany would be to Buddhism or Hinduism, as both religions view the Swastika as a symbol of good fortune or well-being. Nor would it be any more “hate speech” than stepping on the cross-emblazoned flag of the Ku Klux Klan. Our disgust with Hezbollah and Hamas is based upon their vile actions as organizations, not their religious affiliation.

Furthermore, SF State Student Government Representative Brian Gallagher’s accusation that we tried to incite violence at the event is false. The only threats of violence were in fact made by several deranged students from various leftist organizations present at the rally. The College Republicans did everything to appease the heated situation, including allowing modifications of the flags in order to remove the name of Allah. Our offer fell on deaf ears as the situation bordered on violence. Luckily, the atmosphere died down before anyone was hurt. The Police never intervened.

Now, the College Republicans must face a hearing made up of two members of our student government, staff members and an administrator. In what can only be described as an idiotic move, the student government, including representatives Joicy Serrano and Faith Cushenberry, unanimously passed a resolution condemning our actions at the rally, describing them as “hateful religious intolerance.” Kimberly Castillo, who chairs the committee that wrote the initial draft of the Student government resolution, has even had the audacity to say she wants to “wait for due process,” when in fact the student government members have already made up their minds by endorsing this resolution. The hearing panel is nothing but a kangaroo court trial. The attacks against us have nothing to do with what we did at this rally. The fringe radicals and terrorist sympathizers in the student government, particularly President Fowler who has publicly supported Hezbollah, merely see this as another chance to try to silence our organization. In 2004, Fowler signed a petition to have our group removed from campus following the Presidential election in which a violent mob surrounded us, vandalized our property and harassed our members.

This case is a slam dunk in a court of law. Both the ACLU and the foundation for individual rights in education, or FIRE, have taken up the case. Fox News channel has run two stories on our situation and local conservative radio stations are covering our story as well. What does it say about just how far left San Francisco State is when the ACLU is defending College Republicans? The College Republicans at SFSU are committed to systematically dismantling the left wing establishment in San Francisco. We have the radicals on the ropes and we won’t stop until our school and our city are taken back by moderates. Our student governments’ actions will only strengthen our resolve. Imposing sanctions for engaging in free speech sets a dangerous precedent for all student organizations. We did not engage in “hate speech,” incite violence or disrupt any campus events. We stated our opinion through words and symbolism and we will not apologize for it. We’re demanding that the student government retract its resolution and asking all student organizations who believe the school and student government are abusing their power to stand with us.