As a current Emory student who stood with my back turned during Horowitz’s speech, I would like to respond to those who have called my actions disgraceful. I made the choice to stand silently while he spoke; however, I do not condemn those who yelled out.

While Horowitz claims he is willing to engage in free and open debate with those who disagree with his views, we arrived to the event Wednesday night to a few stacks of index cards with instructions to write our questions down. I believe that it was this situation that led many to shout out, feeling their voices would not be heard otherwise. Along these lines, I would point out that when disrupted by the audience Horowitz chose to actively agitate the crowd. Had he responded that he would be willing to engage in an open question and answer after the speech or even completely ignored the crowd, there would have been a much better chance that the disruption would have calmed. Instead, he resorted to name-calling.

Leaving the building, a member of the Emory College Republicans told me that Horowitz’s security detail made the decision to end the speech. Later, they wrote on his website that he had to leave under “tight security.” Anyone in attendance knows that there was no time in which Horowitz was in any type of physical danger. At this point, as much as I don’t want to, I have to give a bit of credit to Ann Coulter. Another speaker for “Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week” she has encountered just as much, if not more, disruption at her events and she has yet to flee the stage.

Let me be clear: Horowitz chose to end this event. He was never under any physical threat and although there were many disruptions by people shouting out, it quickly quieted down each time. Crying on his blog that the “fascists” broke up the event, he chose to run away rather than face a determined opposition. When did protest become a fascist activity?

Later in his blog entry just after the event Horowitz writes, “As I have said many times, there should be zero tolerance for disrupters at campus events, and that means a sufficient police presence to eject the barbarians when they enter the gates.” This is the Horowitz brand of “academic freedom:” pre-emptive police action against protestors. Is that what you want for our campus? It has been said that this is a low moment in Emory history. I say that apathy and complicity are more embarrassing than protesting a controversial speaker.

I believe that it is much more dangerous letting hate and half-truths go unchallenged. You can disagree with me on that, but let’s realize this opportunity we have to debate. This can be a positive event if it sparks real dialogue and forces people to engage with issues of race, discrimination and freedom.

During the confusion after Horowitz initially left the stage a man sitting beside me asked, “Who raised you people?” Two people who voted for Bush in the last election raised me. Two Christians raised me. Two well-educated and well-respected individuals raised me. Most importantly, my parents raised me to stand up when I see hate and wrong in the world. They raised me to protest injustice. So I stood. Call me a fascist, call me a barbarian, arrest me. I will continue to stand.

Hillary Polchow is a College junior from Pascagoula, MS.