'Swastika' forum on UO campus sparks protest, confrontation
EUGENE, Ore. – A self-proclaimed neo-Nazi stormed out of an event where he was scheduled to speak at the University of Oregon campus Friday afternoon.
It happened during a discussion forum about the swastika, where hundreds of protesters showed up to rally against the organization conducting the event: the Pacifica Forum. Protesters said it was because they believe the group promotes hate speech.
The forum's discussion was titled “Symbolism of the Swastika” and included a presentation from Jimmy Marr, a self-proclaimed neo-Nazi. Upset at the protester’s presence, Marr left the discussion before his scheduled time to speak.
Protesters said they support free speech but believe the Pacifica Forum crosses the line by hosting hateful speakers.
On its Web site, Pacifica states “Pacifica Forum's central purpose is to provide information and perspective on the issues of war and peace, militarism and pacifism, violence and non-violence. It seeks not to persuade, but to inform and clarify, so that people can reach sound, informed conclusions on their own. The Pacifica Forum resists efforts to silence this endeavor.”
“Despite what this group says, they are violent," protesters wrote on a Facebook group. "They are not executing free speech; they are executing hate speech.”
At Friday’s meeting, protesters crammed into University of Oregon's Agate Hall.
