Jerome Brown: Money overrules ECU protests

Regarding the Oct. 6 Barry Saunders column “Two different ECU band protests, both worthy of our respect”: The almighty dollar raises its head, and East Carolina band college students’ protest gets shut down.

The Fayetteville radio station has the right to refuse to air ECU’s upcoming football game. The ECU band members have the same right to protest as they see fit.

The school officials apparently have decided to curtail any future protest by band members. What a lesson this teaches our young people who are willing to engage in peaceful protests in 2016 (even at the last ECU football game ).

The lesson here is clear, if they mess with our revenue stream, they will pay the price.

I commend the ECU band students for their protesting. The pressure had to be high. This is 2016. The new chancellor’s recent statement about respecting students rights has fallen on deaf ears.

Monday’s meeting by the three ECU officials, including the band director, clearly sends a shut it down message ... protest will not be tolerated. Money rules.

This story was originally published October 8, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Jerome Brown: Money overrules ECU protests."