In regards to the protests surrounding former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' speech at UF, I have a few important observations to make. As a participant in the protests, I can assure you we take the First Amendment right of freedom of speech very seriously. For the purpose of protecting both Mr. Gonzales' and our First Amendment rights, we unanimously decided our protests should be visual, not vocal.
The fact that any perceived interruption on our part was met with audience applause loud enough to force Gonzales to temporarily stop speaking is indicative of this man's unpopularity, not of the protesters' insensitivity. Besides, the spontaneous outbursts we provoked were only temporary, and their effects can be likened to the outbursts of applause that often force popular speakers into momentary silence.
Protests like these will likely follow Gonzales for quite a while - such is the price of his abysmal career in "civil service." Despite any discomfort the protesters and hecklers may have caused him, he still made ,40,000 for his speech. I find that to be the only embarrassing detail of this whole event.
