Speaker's Circle

Out the back door of the law school, positioned directly on the walk to the Hitt Street Garage, is an amazing circle. It’s called “Speaker’s Circle” and because of its design, when you speak in the center, your voice can be heard quite clearly for some distance. Since the beginning of school, though, the only voices that have been heard are those of some cultish right wing religious group. (Although my friend the Mormon argues that they are not right wing conservative, I will continue identifying them in this way until I feel otherwise – it being my blog and all). Their preaching reaches far beyond what I consider to be appropriate in normal society. They preach the gospel of hate and intolerance. Sadly, they arrive each day, children in tow, to criticize, ridicule and in other ways demonstrate their intolerance. I find it repulsive. They monopolize an open forum and invade my sense of space and tranquility. On Wednesday I participated in a fabulous mindful mediation group (this law school is truly like no other) and try as I might to concentrate on my breathing, I found the screaming and yelling from the speaker’s circle both distracting and blood boiling.

A few days ago a 2L sent around an e-mail suggesting that perhaps the group’s time of domination should come to an end. Because it was a public space, we could just use it to speak of what was on our mind. I immediately predicted that it would turn into a counter protest and e-mailed my concerns to the 2L. I suggested making sure that we had a focus and clarity to our time in the speaker’s circle to use it in a meaningful but non-responsive way to the preachers. I thought that reading critical literacy books might be such an approach. The 2L invited me to do so.

I arrived shortly after CivPro, Freedom Summer packed snugly into my backpack. I walked out into chaos. I took pictures with my cell phone, but they have not arrived in my inbox yet. The “separate” demonstration had in fact become a counter demonstration. The law students and others stood with their signs, blocking the preacher as he screamed red face beyond them. The religious right reveled in the increased attention, and the law students protested that this is not what they wanted, nor intended. I was disappointed and didn’t even move to join, but stood on the sidelines and watched as an attempt to promote something different turned into just more attention for the same. Slowly, small groups led different discussions, trying to focus on healthcare or education, but the power came from the response to the religious right, not the new speakers.

A friend uncovered that the fanatical group is actually paid to be there by, some sort of wacko conservative group. They travel from campus to campus, inciting the standard brand of intolerance. Although we will be left with out resident preacher, the group will be traveling on next week, coming to a campus near you. My apologies.

I was happy to end this long four day week with a happy hour beer with new friends and good conversation.