Letter: The Other Side

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After reading through Ms. Salo’s “News” article ‘Choose a Side’, I couldn’t help but notice only one “side” was represented. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and their right to free speech, which is guaranteed to all Americans by the Constitution. In her article she states “The rally turned violent” referring to the “Unite the Right” protests in Charlottesville, Virginia. The “Unite the Right” protest had applied for a permit to protest were approved to protest against the removal of the statue of Robert E. Lee. The rally did not turn violent until counter-protesters arrived at the scene, unlawfully protesting. No, I am not a white supremacist. No, I am not a bigot or a racist. No, I do not support the events that led to the tragic death of a woman protesting when a car struck her. I am, however, looking at the bigger picture of the events that occurred, and have occurred in the past year. Were the “White Supremacists” burning down and looting local stores? Did they block highways? Did they throw rocks, attack, or shoot any police officers? No, no, and no. As soon as I open a dialogue about a topic of this nature, I am immediately yelled at or told to be quiet because ‘hate’ does not belong on our campus. How can any of our problems ever be resolved if we do not communicate and listen to each other? Which leads me into my final point; what is Ms. Salo’s ‘side’ really protesting? If you ask someone on that side, they would say they are fighting against hate, bigotry and violence and fighting for equality and freedom. But what would the other side say Ms. Salo’s side is fighting against? My answer: The right to free speech. If we, here in America, no longer have the opportunity to practice our right to protest, without being attacked or looked at as ‘bigots’, you have taken a whole group of people right to free speech away from them. Someone on the other ‘side’ of you is entitled to their own opinion, even if you do not like it. We can learn a lot from each other no matter our gender, race, or religion… as long as we listen.