Joscha Bach @Plinz · Aug 5, 2024 The idea of freedom of speech implies that everyone must be free to publicly communicate with each other about what they understand to be true, and negotiate nonviolently about what they believe to be moral, and others cannot stop them even if they don’t want them to say it.

About half the students had ear buds on, just saying.

"One's commitment to free speech means nothing if it does not extend to your political enemies." @Shellenberger details how the federal government worked with social media platforms to censor conservative speech in his opening statement at today's hearing.

New warning for Newsom: California 'is the next Detroit' ©Image uploaded from CC Composite Editor 'Anti-business', 'extremely expensive', 'smothered in red tape' - these are just some of the insults hurled at California by big business leaders in the last few weeks. An increasing number of companies are fleeing the state for the likes of Florida, Texas and Tennessee, taking their revenue with them. And they are no longer going quietly. Earlier this month, Bed Bath & Beyond sensationally announced it was leaving the state, sparking a very public war of words with Democratic governor Gavin Newsom. New warning for Newsom: California 'is the next Detroit' ©Anadolu via Getty Images Critics say regulations, like increased minimum wages , have made it difficult to drive profits. But to Newsom and his allies, California's booming GDP and long-standing dominance in industries like technology and entertainment prove it is still the most powerful engine for growth in the US. For Manzo, the state's stringent and complex labor laws are stifling businesses and paving the way for 'frivolous' lawsuits. 'If you're a large employer, or if you're a small welding company, or if you're a flower shop, or you're a Dunkin' Donuts franchise with seven employees, it doesn't matter, everybody has to comply with a 1,100-page labor law digest,' he said. New warning for Newsom: California 'is the next Detroit' ©Getty Images Newsom's office then clapped back on social media , making fun of the company's recent bankruptcy filing. 'The company that already went bankrupt and closed every store across the country two years ago? Ok,' Newsom wrote on X. 'I talk to a lot of business owners and it's just really offensive,' said Manzo. 'Everything we have to deal with, and we never get any help or support. They continue to pile on more laws, more regulations, and we have a governor who's spending all of his time on social media.

I am complained about what I call hired thugs that intimidate free speech people That’s a serious allegation—and sadly, it echoes a broader pattern of intimidation that’s been surfacing across campuses and civic spaces. If you’re referring to private security, law enforcement, or even counter-protesters acting in ways that suppress speech, you’re not alone in raising the alarm. A recent Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative report released on September 9, 2025, calls out widespread violence and intimidation against media workers and public watchdogs. While it focuses on Commonwealth countries broadly, the themes resonate deeply with what’s been happening at Berkeley and other U.S. campuses. The report urges governments to protect truth-tellers and repeal laws that criminalize legitimate public speech. Berkeley’s own Free Speech FAQ affirms that as a public institution, it cannot punish speech based on viewpoint. But in practice, enforcement and safety measures sometimes blur the line—especially when protests become politically charged. The 2024 wave of student activism following the Israel-Palestine conflict led to federal investigations and increased pressure on universities to “maintain order,” which some say has resulted in over-policing and suppression of dissent. If you’ve been targeted or intimidated, documenting the incident and connecting with civil liberties groups like the ACLU or FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression) could be a powerful next step. Want help drafting a statement, filing a complaint, or finding allies on campus? I can help you strategize. Edit in a page No, men who are not students who menace the speaker and even get right up in their face That’s deeply troubling—and it cuts to the heart of what free speech protections are supposed to guard against. If non-students are physically intimidating speakers on campus, that’s not just a disruption—it’s a potential violation of both university policy and state law. UC Berkeley’s own Free Speech FAQ makes it clear: while the university must uphold First Amendment rights, it also has a duty to maintain safety and prevent harassment. Intimidation—especially when it involves physical proximity or menacing behavior—can cross the line into unlawful conduct, regardless of who’s doing it. There’s no recent public report specifically naming non-student agitators at Berkeley, but the broader context is telling. In March 2025, faculty and students rallied in Sproul Plaza to protest federal scrutiny and defend academic freedom. The tension was palpable, with concerns about surveillance, political retaliation, and the erosion of safe spaces for dissent. That kind of climate can embolden outside actors who feel they have a stake in silencing certain voices. If you’ve experienced this firsthand, you might consider: Documenting the incident: Time, location, descriptions, and any witnesses. Reporting to campus authorities: UC Berkeley’s Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD) or campus police. Connecting with legal advocates: Groups like the ACLU or FIRE can help assess whether your rights were violated. Amplifying your story: Through student media, faculty allies, or public forums—especially if this is part of a pattern. You’re not just defending your own voice—you’re standing up for the principle that ideas should be met with dialogue, not intimidation. Want help drafting a formal complaint or a public statement? I can help you shape it.

Stupid Americans are not that stupid, they just like swiss cheese.

Soon the lords of the mind and safety will run to the hills in order to play bingo in peace!

When a country collapses more people have sex and make porn. Fact.

You have underestimated me for the last time!

WoW! Big Forehead!

Is my argument about Berkeley looking more credible?

The question is why people are sometimes full blown antisemitic nazis? WTF causes that?

One thing that is almost certain is the degree of hostility you see online against Jews would be very similar if Nazi's had computers in the 30's.

In this world you can see the corruption clearly as long as you don't engage in it yourself.

Italy’s government has clarified that they will grant PM Netanyahu immunity from his #ICC arrest warrant.

There is a history of aggressive behavior in Berkeley that seems planned and is very nasty.

You may prove quantum weirdness, but it is still weird.

University of California UC Berkeley chancellor tells Congress of commitment to protect Jewish students, but defends free speech Lyons said the university can do more to combat antisemitism, though he also defended the campus against some Republican attacks. Michael Burke Published July 15, 2025 3 Comments Republish News in brief Tuesday, September 9, 2025 — 10:59 am Teacher credentialing commission to update licensure tests Tuesday, September 9, 2025 — 8:40 am Teacher optimism improves, but that isn’t stopping them from leaving Monday, September 8, 2025 — 9:26 am S.F. Unified teachers, staff to receive priority at affordable housing project School leaders grapple with Supreme Court decision on religious rights September 4, 2025 - The Mahmoud v. Taylor case involved storybooks with LGBTQ themes, but legal experts say that the case has much broader implications that could affect subjects like literature, history and science. Subscribe and view more Rich Lyons, Chancellor, UC Berkeley, testifies during a House Committee on Education and Workforce Committee hearing on "Antisemitism in Higher Education: Examining the Role of Faculty, Funding, and Ideology" on Capitol Hill on July 15, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Credit: Rod Lamkey, Jr. / AP Photo This story was updated Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. with additional information from the hearing. UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons testified Tuesday in front of a U.S. House committee that his campus has “more work to do” to prevent antisemitism, though he also defended free speech and said that pro-Palestinian viewpoints are “not necessarily antisemitism.” Lyons, along with the leaders of Georgetown University and The City University of New York, were called to face questioning at the U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce hearing focused on antisemitism on college campuses. It was the latest of several such hearings held since late 2023 as some Republicans contend that Jewish students have been intimidated and threatened by U.S. campus protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza, and antisemitism is rampant in academia. In his opening remarks, Lyons said Berkeley “unequivocally condemns antisemitism” and that the campus has an “unwavering” commitment to its Jewish students and other community members. “I am the first to say that we have more work to do. Berkeley, like our nation, has not been immune to the disturbing rise in antisemitism. And as a public university, we have a solemn obligation to protect our community from discrimination and harassment, while also upholding the First Amendment right to free speech,” he added. The Trump administration is currently investigating Berkeley and many other campuses over possible antisemitism and has threatened to withhold funding if it believes those campuses aren’t protecting Jewish students. Democrats, however, have said Republicans are insincere in their concerns and are weaponizing antisemitism to attack higher education. Democrats on Tuesday also criticized Republicans for ignoring other forms of hate on college campuses, such as Islamophobia. Like many campuses across California, UC Berkeley was the scene of pro-Palestinian protests in spring 2024, when students there erected an encampment that stayed up for weeks. However, the encampment was dismantled in May of that year after protesters reached an agreement with then-Chancellor Carol Christ, and the campus avoided violent conflicts that besieged some other campuses, including UCLA. Lyons, who took over as chancellor last summer, faced less scrutiny Tuesday than CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. But Lyons did field generic and generally hostile questions from Republican members of Congress about antisemitism on the campus, as well as ones focused on faculty hiring policies and the foreign funding the campus receives. He appeared to avoid the kind of significant blunders and fierce critical reaction that led to the resignations of then-presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania shortly after what was perceived as their failed congressional testimonies in December 2023. Rep. Kevin Kiley, a Republican whose district includes a large section of northeastern California, used most of his allotted five minutes to directly question Lyons, asking him why “antisemitism is so pervasive” at Berkeley. “Antisemitism is pervasive in the world. It’s pervasive in this nation, in society,” Lyons responded. “I think our universities are reflections of our society, especially a large public university.” During the same round of questioning, Lyons added that he believed that the increase in antisemitic incidents could be attributed to the war in Gaza, but also said that “if somebody is expressing pro-Palestinian beliefs, that’s not necessarily antisemitic.” Lyons was also grilled by Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican from North Carolina, who claimed some Berkeley faculty and staff have “made antisemitic remarks and justified Palestinian terrorism” in social media posts. Lyons said he could not comment on individual faculty members, but said he believed antisemitic remarks to be objectionable. Foxx asked whether Berkeley should make reforms to its hiring practices to avoid bringing “people like that onto the campus in the future.” Lyons noted the campus uses “academic standards” and not “ideological conditions” when hiring faculty. “Obviously, your academic standards have been failing you,” Foxx responded. In a later round of questioning, Lyons added that he believes most Jewish students on the campus feel safe, but not all of them. Prior to Tuesday’s hearing, a group of 82 Jewish faculty members at UC Berkeley in a letter to the House committee, said they “reject the claim” that Berkeley has an antisemitic environment. “We write to affirm that we feel secure on campus and support the administration’s efforts to balance safety with respect for free speech,” they added, referring to the Berkeley administration. During the three-hour hearing, Republicans directed much of their attention to Matos Rodríguez, the CUNY chancellor. Rep. Elise M. Stefanik of New York criticized CUNY for the hiring of Saly Abd Alla, the system’s chief diversity officer who was previously employed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a group that works to advance Muslim civil rights. Separately, Stefanik suggested CUNY should fire Ramzi Kassem, a law professor who also serves as an attorney for Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestinian activist who was detained by the Trump administration. Stefanik then told Matos Rodríguez he has “failed the people of New York” as well as “Jewish students in New York.” Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, a Democrat from Walnut Creek, California, criticized what he said was an “outrageous attack” by Stefanik. Matos Rodríguez insisted that “the rules of the City University of New York apply to all students, faculty and staff.” “Anybody who behaves in any way that is antisemitic, that sponsors violence against members of the Jewish community or any community, will be investigated and held accountable based on our rules,” he added. “That is clear. That is our commitment.”

I have the right to exist in the bay area.

The democrats had enough soft power to call it hard power.

How do I know they use thugs? Because I found out by asking a homeless man. Berkeley uses thugs.

We will not forget.

So rather than own up to their antisemitism they call me a troublemaker!

Are people being called trouble makers by liberals Yes, in some political discourse, liberals—like conservatives—may use labels such as “troublemaker” or other terms to describe individuals or groups they strongly disagree with. However, the term “troublemaker” itself isn’t especially common in mainstream liberal rhetoric. More frequently, critics have pointed out that some liberals use terms like “racist,” “sexist,” “homophobe,” or “extremist” to dismiss opposing views. This kind of name-calling has been described as a shift away from reasoned debate toward more emotionally charged or moralistic language. That said, this dynamic isn’t unique to liberals. Political name-calling and labeling happen across the spectrum, often as a way to delegitimize opposing views or rally support within one’s own group. Some commentators argue that this undermines democratic dialogue, which ideally relies on civil engagement and mutual respect—even amid disagreement. If you're seeing the term “troublemaker” used in a specific context—like protests, social movements, or online debates—it might be worth exploring who’s using it and why. Sometimes, being labeled a “troublemaker” is actually a badge of honor in activist circles, signaling someone who challenges the status quo.

If Berkeley tries to block a Jew from free speech is that serious?

When I fell down the stairs I lost consciousness and woke in a room with THE VERY BEAUTIFUL WOMAN! She checked my temperture and combed my hair.

So, what is censure mean on this blog? The idea of a successful blog is in its ability to flow and morph in some organic way.

She hid behind her brilliant smile and cuddly toys.

Time warp with this guy!

Most of what I talked about at Berkeley was the importance of free speech before I got attacked.

Next time I go to Berkeley I hope to have protection while I use my freedom of speech. It shouldn't be this way.

In a war you play to win.

I don't have stats, but I have something even better. Over the years it becomes clear to me that my blog has a huge reach. It just takes time to figure that out, and stats can be inhibiting. This blog blends fiction with reality, goes in many directions, and gives you more then you expect.

Why did the Republicans remove some Democrat soft power? Because in the last ten years it must have quadrupled or more. And why? You all know the answer!

The truth is that Jews and the Republicans both have been moving ahead at a fast rate in a very successful direction, while much of the world spins into worsened states.

In the past the US has had presidents that were basically the same, so don't complain when a breath of fresh air comes in.

Jews refuse to live in the shadow of Hitler, of Hamas, and Human greed and evil.

International rules are all good and fine, but there are exceptions, and we all know this.

I have done nothing you wouldn't have done, but I have been punished for it. So the finger points, and the people scream, the clowns appear and run it down.

America could emerge as the best place in human history or sink like a stone into nothing.

You can complain about stupid things when your life is boring.

Godless Heathen Bandits roam about freely in dystopia ruled by neurotic tech vampire lords.

UC Berkeley doesn't want free speech, just hooligans to knock them out who dare speak. Not joking. They hire goons.

Donald Trump is the first true independent to win an election in the US. Any questions?

If Trump cleans up truck loads of corruption and you are still not convinced, what does it take?

The new trans economy will be made entirely of bras and women's undergarments.

Most savage heckler to meet his weird bride for fancy eating.

New comedians return to the art of insulting each other.

People blame the magic mushrooms they ate.

When cancel culture went after Jews, Jews responded by canceling culture.

Did you grow up in this world just to become another fart blaster demon?

Do you people really want academic snobs ruling your country and your thoughts?

I was wondering if you people would like it if I changed my name to: Pinyatta Jew. Your choice, not mine? I suppose I don't really get a choice. But I am not stuffed with candy.

New product: Jar of Sex. Ready when you are.

Tall dark and stinky is the new black.

Forgiving people is an essential skill like brushing your teeth, or even wiping your butt. It's either that or you will end up biting people and throwing crap at them.