'Irvine 11' Charged For Disturbing Michael Oren's Speech

Eleven University of California students have been charged for their involvement in disrupting a speech given by Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren last February at UC Irvine, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The students -- 8 currently at UC Irvine and 3 UC Riverside graduates -- were charged with with two misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to disturb a meeting and disturbance of the meeting by the Orange County District Attorney's office on Friday, only a few days after a protest was staged outside of the DA's office in support of the so-called 'Irvine 11.'

The incident prompted the suspension of the school's Muslim Student Union group and sparked debates on campus regarding limitations on free speech. But Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas contends that the students' First Amendment rights are not at issue in this case. He told the Los Angeles Times that the students were charged because they "meant to stop this speech and stop anyone else from hearing his ideas, and they did so by disrupting a lawful meeting," citing alleged e-mails that announced a "University of Chicago Style disruption of the Ambassador's speech." He added:

We must decide whether we are a country of laws or a country of anarchy...We cannot tolerate a pre-planned violation of the law, even if the crime takes place on a school campus and even if the defendants are college students. In our democratic society, we cannot tolerate a deliberate, organized, repetitive and collective effort to significantly disrupt a speaker who hundreds assembled to hear.

The students' arraignment will take place on March 11. If found guilty, they face up to six months in jail, fines or probation and community service.

Below, check out the Examiner's footage of Michael Oren's truncated speech.

What do you think? Were the students rightfully charged, or is this an overreaction? Weigh in below.

Comments

[tallen]

07:13 PM on 02/11/2011

It is a mockery for these thugs to claim a free speech defense.
It was quite apparent that their goal was to shut down the right of free speech for those they disagree with.

[NoGoNuts]

02:29 PM on 03/13/2011

I think they learned that tactic from the Tea Party during town hall meetings/whine-fests... but that is different because they are Muslims though, so they should be treated more harshly.

Based on your logic, the Tea Partiers in those town hall meetings should be charged too, unless one is a full blown hypocrite of course.

[thesilvergoodbar]

03:37 PM on 02/11/2011

Links to their mug shots please.

[WilsonWilson]

03:33 PM on 02/11/2011

When I was at one of the UC campuses, I ran into similar things. I had some friends that were Palestinians. But after knowing them for a couple of years, I was horrified to hear them expressing the desire to annihilate as many Jews as possible. And it was not just a casual thing, but said with joy and even glee. I was a bit shocked, I have to admit.

[Nwo2012]

03:58 PM on 02/11/2011

Liar

[WilsonWilson]

04:07 PM on 02/11/2011

Of course. You were there, right?

[BcemXAHA]

08:45 PM on 02/11/2011

And you'd call this commentator that exactly why?

Gotta love internet commandos.

[thesilvergoodbar]

03:30 PM on 02/11/2011

They must be deported after serving their sentences.

[JerryLevy]

03:17 PM on 02/11/2011

These Muslim students believe they have to right to stop everyone from even hearing ideas they disagree with. I can't think of anything more un American or un Democratic. It is very offensive that some people believe they can intimidate others because of their beliefs in our country. This is not Iran, this is the U.S. and I believe everyone must respect freedom of speech.

[Cynthia Rays]

02:27 PM on 02/11/2011

Michael Oren is representing a government promoting war crimes.

[WilsonWilson]

03:31 PM on 02/11/2011

Oh yes? Like using civilians as human shields?

[Nwo2012]

04:00 PM on 02/11/2011

Yes! Israels army does that as a matter of policy.

In fact, the IOF appealed against an Israeli high-court ban on the practice.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4333982.stm

[squiems]

04:22 PM on 02/11/2011

if what israel has done is war crimes, than every western european country (not to mention america) should be indicted for what they regularly do in afghanistan.

[MadCroation]

12:31 PM on 03/05/2011

I agree.

[squiems]

01:05 PM on 02/11/2011

It really makes your point of view look intellectually bankrupt when you are too cowardly to actually debate and instead focus on using force to keep others from speaking.

But that's typical of israel haters.

[Nwo2012]

02:20 PM on 02/11/2011

Its a protest. They should be congratulated. Expect more of these.

[JerryLevy]

03:18 PM on 02/11/2011

It is intimidation and disrespect. And yes, I expect more of these incidents to happen courtesy of the MSU

[thesilvergoodbar]

03:32 PM on 02/11/2011

Cool. Expect more convictions and deportations.

[squiems]

01:03 PM on 02/11/2011

good, brownshirts getting what they deserve

[Nwo2012]

02:26 PM on 02/11/2011

Michael Oren is not a member of the US government.

He represents the interests of a foreign country.

[WilsonWilson]

03:31 PM on 02/11/2011

So what? Were there protestors screaming so Ahmadinejad could not speak? I watched the entire thing a couple of times. I missed that.

[squiems]

04:24 PM on 02/11/2011

so what, not allowing him to speak is still not legitimate protest.

[WilsonWilson]

10:48 AM on 02/10/2011

They are lucky they were not "tased".

[BcemXAHA]

11:03 AM on 02/11/2011

I would have paid money to see it.

[WilsonWilson]

12:48 PM on 02/11/2011

I would like to do the tasing myself.

[JerryLevy]

03:18 PM on 02/11/2011

I wonder how many of them we could legally deport.

[WilsonWilson]

03:30 PM on 02/11/2011

Good question. I wonder....

[BcemXAHA]

08:43 PM on 02/11/2011

Hopefully all of them? That would be lovely, and since they're so concerned about the well being of the Palestinians, perhaps we can flotilla them directly to the shores of Gaza!

[Jan Allen McDaniel]

10:34 AM on 02/10/2011

It's about time. Islamist thugs have been handled with kid gloves for far too long.

[Mark Webber]

12:27 PM on 02/10/2011

Muslims never fail to show their true colors and keep giving Islam and themselves a bad name again.. and again.. and again. I can always count on them.

[WilsonWilson]

12:49 PM on 02/11/2011

Reliable like a clock.

[GatorAtLarge]

11:10 PM on 03/11/2011

Did you hear any reference to Islam?

[erehwon2]

10:30 AM on 02/10/2011

The hecklers were unruly thugs who deserved to get arrested. Their actions were not "free speech," they were infringing on others' rights to speak and to listen.

If the group wanted their voices to be heard (rather than simply trying to silence those with which they disagreed), they either could have demonstrated outside the hall or listened to the speech and presented their own questions during question and answer time following. Apparently, such intelligent and civilized action was beyond them.

[Nwo2012]

02:21 PM on 02/11/2011

Were you there?

[JerryLevy]

03:19 PM on 02/11/2011

Debating ideas, give and take, intellectual discussion are not in the vocabulary of the Muslim Students Union at UCI. The idea is just to handle any thoughts they disagree with like they do in Iran-----through violence and intimidation.

[BcemXAHA]

10:17 AM on 02/10/2011

I love that these thugs are failing their class! awesome! effin thugs.

[TheLonelyGod]

10:07 AM on 02/10/2011

Book 'em Danno!

[T4]

02:34 PM on 02/09/2011

Freedom of Speech - remember the first amendment - oh that's right this is speech against Israel - i'm amazed the guys weren't shot or gassed

[StCuthbert]

09:30 AM on 02/10/2011

Freedom of speech was the exact right they were trying to prevent. If freedom of speech is important to you, you should support this ruling.

[BcemXAHA]

10:24 AM on 02/10/2011

Free speech? Really? Did these thugs allow Oren free speech?

[Erewhon7]

12:28 PM on 02/09/2011

Fundamentalist Muslims suppress free speech. Big surprise.

[T4]

02:36 PM on 02/09/2011

sorry - what does your statement have to do with this story or perhaps based on your comment simple connect the dots brain funstionality is just on the other side of your current capabilties

[Erewhon7]

12:27 AM on 02/10/2011

A speaker came to address student group A..
Some other students, group B, decided that the speaker should not be able to exercise his right of free speech.
Group B has been suspended by the university and now are being criminally prosecuted fro suppression of free speech.
Try these facts on for size. This is U.S., not Islamabad, Pakistan.

[JerryLevy]

03:22 PM on 02/11/2011

T4---are you so simple you cannot see the relevance of the statement to the subject at hand?