Protest was out of line: Demonstration wasn't fair to the speaker the students or the University

When Tom Tancredo spoke at UNC yesterday" he was the most moderate person there.

The controversial former congressman was hosted by Youth for Western Civilization" a right-wing organization dedicated to the fight against what it calls ""radical multiculturalism"" on every level.

But instead of a peaceful demonstration against viewpoints with which they disagree" many protesters took things too far.

When police declared the room in Bingham Hall to be at capacity protesters tried to force their way inside. Police pepper sprayed the hallways to keep them at bay and also pulled out Tasers" though none were aimed directly at students.

A window was smashed as ruckus ensued.

The dissenters also shouted profanities in an effort to drown out the former representative. They even attempted to storm the room where Tancredo was speaking.

Protesters could have voiced their views in a way that wasn't destructive.

And some did. Many quietly spoke their minds by sitting in on the speech with banners and signs to make their presence heard. Others held the previously planned ""dance for diversity"" in the Pit.

The standards of diversity and multiculturalism that the University espouses diametrically oppose the viewpoints held by Youth for Western Civilization.

But refusing to let a man speak is not the proper response.

Dissent is all well and good. In cases like this" it's encouraged. But violent protest is not the answer.