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TX Governor Endorsed Hotel’s Canceling of Rep. Tlaib’s Keynote

Banned Member
@BryanGStephens
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From KHOU-TV:

An event hosted by the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights will no longer be held at a Houston hotel where it was scheduled to take place later this month. The Hilton Houston Post Oak by the Galleria was going to host the Seize the Moment US Campaign for Palestinian Rights National Conference from Oct. 27 to Oct. 29.
The hotel cited concerns for its team members and guests for calling it off.
"Given escalating security concerns in the current environment, the hotel has determined that it cannot serve as the venue for this event because of the potential risks," the hotel said in a statement.
Several speakers were scheduled to show up for the conference, including journalist and academic Marc Lamont Hill, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (keynote speaker) and senior staff attorney Daila Shamas. The conference was to be moderated by Rasha Mubarak.
In the last few days, the event had come under fire, targeted by a conservative media pressure campaign, which called on people to call Hilton and complain about the event.
Gov. Abbott posted to X, formerly Twitter, Tuesday night, about the cancellation, saying it was the right thing for the hotel to do: "Hilton Hotels in Houston was correct to pull the plug on the U.S. Campaign for Palestine Rights event hosted by Hamas supporters. Texas has no room for hate & antisemitism like that supported by Hamas. No location in Texas should host or sponsor USCPR."

I have a real problem with the Governor of Texas weighing in. I think he should have held his tongue. Indeed, I think the idea that security risks were at issue, he should have offered Texas Rangers to protect the facility and ensure that the horrible ideas were able to be said. The time to be for Free Speech the most is when the ideas being said are horrid.

This is a missed opportunity to support free speech and to allow evil to show itself uncovered.

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Discussion (30)

  • kedavis@kedavis
    Bryan G. Stephens (View Post):
    I have a real problem with the Governor of Texas weighing in. I think he should have held his tongue. Indeed, I think the idea that security risks were at issue, he should have offered Texas Rangers to protect the facility and ensure that the horrible ideas were able to be said. The time to be for Free Speech the most is when the ideas being said are horrid.

    That's a more valid argument when the other side has the same opportunity to make their case. Too often these days, that doesn't happen. And to be fair, if one side is going to be silenced, then both sides should be silenced.

  • Banned Member@BryanGStephens
    Replyingtokedavis

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Post):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Post):
    I have a real problem with the Governor of Texas weighing in. I think he should have held his tongue. Indeed, I think the idea that security risks were at issue, he should have offered Texas Rangers to protect the facility and ensure that the horrible ideas were able to be said. The time to be for Free Speech the most is when the ideas being said are horrid.

    That’s a more valid argument when the other side has the same opportunity to make their case. Too often these days, that doesn’t happen. And to be fair, if one side is going to be silenced, then both sides should be silenced.

    I understand that sentiment.

    And

    This was a missed opportunity to get this done right.

  • BDB@BDB

    In another time, I would agree. But look at this sorry party. We can't even elect a Speaker without a bunch of ninnies threatening to vote Democrat. Elected Republicans vote DEMOCRAT!

    I'm not a fan of cancellation, but here we are, and nothing we do reduces our own cancellation. It's been decades since E. O. Wilson was hounded and threatened out of university classrooms for daring to suggest that the same things which are biologically true of the entire rest of the world of living things might also be true of humans. Do we see less of that student terror these days, or more? From University speech to murder verdicts *including* official testimony from government office-holders, we are a terrorized, intimidated, conquered people exiled to the sidelines in our own country.

    So screw 'em.

    Blockade away. We have tried for decades to win by being more decent, more law-abiding, more patient and tolerant etc, and all we get is beaten to death at an intersection. Screw the left.

    I'm glad Talib's terror conference got cancelled and I'm glad Abbott escalated.

  • kedavis@kedavis
    ReplyingtoBryan G. Stephens

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Post):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Post):
    I have a real problem with the Governor of Texas weighing in. I think he should have held his tongue. Indeed, I think the idea that security risks were at issue, he should have offered Texas Rangers to protect the facility and ensure that the horrible ideas were able to be said. The time to be for Free Speech the most is when the ideas being said are horrid.

    That’s a more valid argument when the other side has the same opportunity to make their case. Too often these days, that doesn’t happen. And to be fair, if one side is going to be silenced, then both sides should be silenced.

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    I understand that sentiment.

    And

    This was a missed opportunity to get this done right.

    Okay, but only if we go first, and without threats, intimidation, vandalism... from the other side.

  • MWD B612 "Dawg"@danok1
    ReplyingtoBryan G. Stephens

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Post):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Post):
    I have a real problem with the Governor of Texas weighing in. I think he should have held his tongue. Indeed, I think the idea that security risks were at issue, he should have offered Texas Rangers to protect the facility and ensure that the horrible ideas were able to be said. The time to be for Free Speech the most is when the ideas being said are horrid.

    That’s a more valid argument when the other side has the same opportunity to make their case. Too often these days, that doesn’t happen. And to be fair, if one side is going to be silenced, then both sides should be silenced.

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    I understand that sentiment.

    And

    This was a missed opportunity to get this done right.

    Abbott should have held his tongue. Look for Texas getting sued for suppression of 1st Amendment rights.

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