YAF Table at OSU Campus Encountered Disturbance
Students Andrew Williamson and Caleb Buxton, part of the Young America Foundation (YAF) chapter at Oklahoma State University, faced harassment while setting up tables aimed at engaging peers in discussion and sharing ideas.
It all began when a student, who identified himself simply as “no,” approached their table, grabbed their flyers, and discarded them on the grass nearby.
Joshua Wilson, a fellow YAF member, can be heard in various recordings asserting, “This is our property, and you’re stealing it again and throwing it away.” He highlighted that the individual returned to their table multiple times, causing ongoing harassment.
The confrontation escalated when the student claimed, “Freedom of speech means you have the right to say whatever you want to say, and I have the right to tell you to stop,” labeling the YAF members as “fascists.”
In response, a YAF member articulated, “You have a right to free speech, but you don’t have the right to censor other people’s speech,” suggesting that while freedom is a two-way street, it’s not about silencing others.
Discourse continued with, “The government doesn’t have the right to tell you to shut up. I do,” from the opposing student. The YAF’s standpoint remained clear: they’re open to discussion but won’t back down when it comes to their rights.
Williamson later shared with Fox News Digital his concerns regarding the intentions of the harasser. He expressed hope that the university would act quickly to protect students, saying, “It’s unfortunate that people would choose to resort to violence and destruction rather than having a conversation.” He firmly believes everyone should feel secure in exercising their First Amendment rights.
Williamson also reported that law enforcement had been contacted and reacted swiftly. “We expect this individual to face the full consequences of the law and potential university discipline, including expulsion,” he added, mentioning that similar incidents tend to occur when conservative groups attempt to promote free speech.
Oklahoma State University has stated that they uphold free speech and are actively looking into the incident. They assured that student organizations have the right to express their opinions, and charges related to the incident are forthcoming.
