Days after the University of Utah Police Department shut down the Utah Young Americans for Freedom chapter’s screening of Damaged, a documentary starring Chloe Cole, a UUPD police lieutenant took to Instagram to mock one of the chapter’s upcoming events in support of Israel.
Ryan Speers, who is in charge of coordinating the police department’s presence at special events, sent a “laughing” emoji in response to the chapter’s post about its upcoming “Show Up, Show Out for Israel” vigil, which will feature a display of 200 Israeli flags in tribute to the victims of the ongoing terror attacks abroad.
According to Utah YAF Chair Lucy Atwood, Speers has been particularly difficult to work with throughout the planning process for one of the chapter’s upcoming events.
“It makes me worried that our First Amendment rights won’t be respected and that we won’t be taken seriously,” she remarked.
The New Guard sent Speers a message asking him to elaborate on his stance and why he felt it was appropriate, as a figure of authority at the university, to mock a student-organized event in support of one of America’s closest allies that’s facing one of its darkest hours. He did not respond.
Young America’s Foundation is working to ensure that the chapter’s future events will not be subject to administrative cancellation due to the Left’s inability to behave, and that certain university officials learn how to conduct themselves professionally.
