Barely one month after the University of Connecticut unsuccessfully tried to suppress an on-campus speech by conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, administrators have scheduled a speech from a notorious anti-Semite who once called for jihad against President Donald Trump.
UConn will host Linda Sarsour, a Muslim-American activist who was a co-chair of the 2017 Women’s March, on March 7. While the official university event page describes Sarsour as a “racial justice and civil rights activist,” recent statements on Sharia law and Jews in America have proven her to be anything but someone who is committed to promoting civil rights.
As far back as 2011, Sarsour has tweeted about her admiration for Sharia law, as well as a desire to see it imposed in more countries.
“You’ll know when you’re living under Sharia Law if suddenly all your loans & credit cards become interest free,” tweeted Sarsour. “Sound nice, doesn’t it?”
Sarsour is also well-known for publicly making anti-Semitic statements, several of which have drawn condemnation from the Anti-Defamation League and Jewish commentators like Alan Dershowitz.
In a 2017 interview, Sarsour declared that Zionism and feminism were incompatible, arguing that there is no room for feminists who support the state of Israel and oppose Palestine.
“It just doesn’t make any sense for someone to say, ‘Is there room for people who support the state of Israel and do not criticize it in the movement?’” said Sarsour. “There can’t be in feminism. You either stand up for the rights of all women, including Palestinians, or none. There’s just no way around it.”
Additionally, Sarsour has also criticized women’s activists Brigitte Gabriel and Ayaan Hirsi Ali, both victims of violent Islamic extremism. Hirsi Ali was forced to undergo female genital mutilation in her youth. In 2011, she tweeted that both deserved an “a$$ whipping” and expressed a desire to take away their vaginas.
“Brigitte Gabriel = Ayaan Hirsi Ali. She’s asking 4 an ass whippin’,” tweeted Sarsour. “I wish I could take their vaginas away — they don’t deserve to be women.”
While it is truly remarkable that the taxpayer-subsidized UConn would choose to celebrate Women’s History Month by bringing a woman who has engaged in anti-Semitism and promoted Sharia law to speak on campus. UConn has repeatedly shown itself to be selective when it comes to promoting political speech on campus.
John Patrick (@john_pat_rick) is a graduate of Canisius College and Georgia Southern University. He interned for Red Alert Politics during the summer of 2012 and has continued to contribute regularly.
