UF students protest law class by Justice Clarence Thomas
Students at the University of Florida are protesting the presence of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on campus.
Thomas is on campus to teach a course on religious protections within the First Amendment.
Students at the University of Florida are protesting the presence of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas who is on campus teaching a course on the First Amendment and religion.
The small, exclusive course titled “Religious Clauses of the First Amendment” will have met only eight times before its final session on Friday.
The course has been causing controversy at the university since its original announcement in October, with one law student telling the student newspaper that “times have changed and he should not be welcome to campus,” and that Thomas “does not fit the mold” of UF law professors.
[RELATED: VIDEO: Despite backlash, UF students defend Clarence Thomas lecture]
According to The Independent Florida Alligator, protesters shouted “one in three, believe me,” referencing statistics about sexual assault on their campus. Words from Anita Hill’s testimony against Thomas were also shown on a wall in a common area, reported the Alligator.
[RELATED: VIDEO: Students oppose Clarence Thomas building… but don’t know why]
Local reporter Nicole Rogers tweeted photos of some of the signs present at the protest, including one that read “Believe survivors even when their abusers are powerful.”
“A strong woman stands up for herself. A stronger woman stands up for everyone else. Thank you, Professor HIll,” read another.
Yet another sign read “UF LAW: Where PRESTIGE Always Wins.”
Rogers also posted photos of “I believe Anita Hill,” buttons that were being distributed at the event.
UF Law Dean Laura A. Rosenbury told Campus Reform that the school is “honored to welcome” Thomas to campus.
”The course presents a rare opportunity for our students to learn from a clerk and a justice of our nation’s highest court,” aded Rosenbury.
”UF Law is a diverse law school, and our students, faculty, and staff care deeply about a range of issues. We recognize and respect all viewpoints and encourage our students to express their views as part of the marketplace of ideas that is academia,” she concluded.
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