Jack Brooks: Bans from both

George Will’s thoughtful June 1 column “A break from campus muzzling” expressed disgust with the “sinister childishness” of attacks by progressives on college campuses.

I agree that freedom of speech is worth defending, whether you agree with the speech or not. He is mistaken in not also pointing a finger at the right wing, however.

Here in North Carolina, in 1963, the legislature passed the egregious speaker ban law, which forbade from speaking on college campuses anyone who, among other things, had ever invoked the Fifth Amendment, in respect of communist, or “subversive” connections.

Jesse Helms, from his pulpit at WRAL broadcasting, pushed this bill with such fervor it was passed with very little debate. The law remained in effect for five years until a federal district court struck it down.

Will might take the log out of his own eye so that he can see clearly to take the speck out of his brother’s eye.

This story was originally published June 7, 2015 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Jack Brooks: Bans from both."