RESOLUTIONS IN OPPOSITION TO THE INVITATION OF RAY LUC LEVASSEUR BY A GROUP OF FACULTY MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT AMHERST.

WHEREAS, A GROUP OF FACULTY MEMBERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT AMHERST HAS INVITED RAY LUC LEVASSEUR TO SPEAK ON THE CAMPUS ON THURSDAY, NOV. 12, 2009; AND

WHEREAS, RAY LUC LEVASSEUR IS THE FOUNDER AND FORMER LEADER OF THE UNITED FREEDOM FRONT, A RADICAL GROUP THAT ADVOCATED, PLOTTED AND EXECUTED VIOLENT ACTIONS AGAINST GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND FACILITIES IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND IN OTHER STATES; AND

WHEREAS, MEMBERS OF THE UNITED FREEDOM FRONT COMMITTED ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM, INCLUDING THE BOMBINGS OF BANKS, COURTHOUSES, MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AND PRIVATE BUSINESSES; AND

WHEREAS, THE ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM CONDUCTED BY MEMBERS OF THE UNITED FREEDOM FRONT INCLUDED THE MURDER OF NEW JERSEY STATE TROOPER PHIL LAMONACO, THE SHOOTING OF 2 MASSACHUSETTS STATE TROOPERS AND THE BOMBING OF THE SUFFOLK COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN APRIL 1976 WHICH INJURED 22 PEOPLE; AND

WHEREAS, RAY LUC LEVASSEUR SERVED 18 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR CRIMES HE COMMITTED AS THE LEADER OF THE UNITED FREEDOM FRONT AND HE HAS NEVER APOLOGIZED OR EXPRESSED REGRET FOR HIS ROLE IN THESE ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM; AND

WHEREAS, THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT WROTE IN ITS DECISION IN NEAR VS. MINNESOTA THAT “AN INDIVIDUAL’S RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH DOES NOT EXTEND TO SPEECH THAT INCITES VIOLENCE OR ADVOCATES FOR THE OVERTHROW BY FORCE OF ORDERLY GOVERNMENT”; AND

WHEREAS, THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT AMHERST IS A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY, WITH ITS OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE AND ACTIVITIES HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED BY THE TAXPAYERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH; AND

WHEREAS, AT THE REQUEST OF HIS EXCELLENCY, GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK, AND DONNA LAMONACO, THE WIDOW OF NEW JERSEY STATE TROOPER PHIL LAMONACO, THE UNIVERSITY INITIALLY REVOKED THE SPEAKING INVITATION AND CANCELLED THE EVENT BUT ONE OR MORE MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY PERSISTED IN EXTENDING A SECOND INVITATION NOTWITHSTANDING THE ACTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY; AND

WHEREAS, THE SPEECH WILL TAKE PLACE A WEEK AFTER AN ASSAULT ON FORT HOOD THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF 12 SERVICEMEN, AND ONE DAY AFTER WE REMEMBER THE SACRIFICES MADE BY OUR VETERANS TO PRESERVE OUR FREEDOMS AND KEEP US SAFE; NOW THEREFORE BE IT,

RESOLVED, THAT THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATE HEREBY OPPOSES AND CONDEMNS THE ACTIONS OF A GROUP OF FACULTY MEMBERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT AMHERST IN INVITING RAY LUC LEVASSEUR TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC AT THIS PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THESE RESOLUTIONS BE TRANSMITTED FORTHWITH BY THE CLERK OF THE SENATE TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT AMHERST.