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BLM Invades & Disrupts Michigan Political Union Debate, University Doesn’t Stop Them

BLM Invades & Disrupts Michigan Political Union Debate, University Doesn’t Stop Them

By

grantstrobl

September 28, 2016

BLM Invades & Disrupts Michigan Political Union Debate, University Doesn’t Stop Them By Grant Strobl Tuesday night hundreds of Black Lives Matters protesters invaded and disrupted an event at the University of Michigan held by the Michigan Political Union (MPU). University officials did not remove protesters who took over the event, which according to an unnamed university official was because student leaders from the MPU didn’t invoke the “heckler warning” which would request a response by the university to remove protestors. The President of the Michigan Political Union, Joshua Strup, confirms this; however, he claims that the MPU and the university made an agreement to allow protesters into the event before the event began but not after the doors closed. According to Strup, “the protesters came afterwards.” Bill Presley, the MPU Director of External Affairs said, “They [the protesters] were supposed to be stopped at the door of the venue.” screen-shot-2016-09-28-at-9-46-10-am After the event was consumed by BLM protestors, the organizers decided that they would not be able to remove protestors and did not call on university officials to remove them. With this, Strup praised the University of Michigan’s efforts to protect students and protesters. Controversy over the event stemmed from a proposed resolution regarding the Black Lives Matter Movement. Similar to political unions at other universities, the MPU proposes resolutions, discusses them, and then decides whether to adopt them. The proposed resolution was, “Black Lives Matter is harmful to racial relations in the United States.” The BLM movement took issue with the phrasing of the debate and called on it to be cancelled despite the fact the resolution has not been voted on. The Central Student Government at the University of Michigan said that due to the debate, “we are forced once again to confront bigotry here at Michigan.” umich_blm1 The BLM protestors stormed into the debate hall during the speech by the Allison Hellman, a representative from the Liberal Party. Although Allison voiced her support for the motives of the Black Lives Matter movement she was mocked by the protestors. “I think Black Lives Matter is important as an organization, I think its goals are in the right direction, but I think the tactics that they use are exclusionary.” She continued, “I tried to include both sides and I felt victimized when I was interrupted.” The mission of the Michigan Political Union is, “To provide University of Michigan students with a public forum for debate and to encourage the discussion and discourse of contemporary, political issue.” Protesters took over the event, and disrupted speech by the MPU, despite efforts from within to keep protesters quiet and attentive. Four of the planned speakers were not able to speak because of the protestors. umich_blm2 Protesters shouted “you’re not black” to the speakers and after the debate labeled a black student who has reservations about BLM an “Uncle Tom.” Once the majority of the protestors left the event, the discussion with remaining supporters of BLM appeared constructive. The Michigan Political Union did not vote on the resolution tonight. Grant Strobl is chairman of the Young Americans for Freedom Board of Governors as well as the Young Americans for Freedom chapter at the University of Michigan. 

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