Farrakhan to speak at Civic Center

Controversial Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan will be speaking at the Philadelphia Civic Center Monday. The event -- which is "open to males of ever race, creed and color" -- marks the second time the renowned black Muslim has been to Philadelphia this academic year. Farrakhan is also known for his radical views, which some consider anti-semitic and racist. One of Farrakhan's main messages, according to organizers of the event, will be to call on one million black men to a "March on Washington" on October 16. Although, University students had differing viewpoints on the embattled speaker, all agreed he should be given a forum. College senior and Undergraduate Assembly member Dan Schorr defended Farrakhan's right to speak. "I think he has a right to speak," Schorr said. "It's a shame everyone can't go and see it. "Some of the things he says are anti-Semitic, but he has a right to say them," he added. "It's important that people hear what he has to say so they can judge for themselves whether he's anti-Semitic or not." College junior and Black Student League Vice President Onyx Finney said the press has been unfair to Farrakhan. He added that he approves of Farrakhan limiting his speech to only men because sometimes there is a need for men to talk amongst them selves about certain issues. "People jump to conclusions when he comes," Finney said. "He's gotten a bad rap. The fact that he's speaking to men exclusively is not sexist." College sophomore and Jewish Social Action Committee Evan Weiner said that Farrakhan is entitled to free speech. But he added that he hopes to educate the public and expose myths about Farrakhan. "This is America and I believe in the freedom of speech and he has to have a forum to speak in," Weiner said. "However, the kind of hate that he expresses is against everything I stand for and America stands for. "Instead of censoring his language, I'd rather have it posted all over the media so that people can see what kind of hate he expresses," he added. And Vision editor and Engineering junior Cardell Orrin said Farrakhan brings an important message to the African-American community. "His message is positive for the people he's speaking to," Orrin said. "He's trying to help African Americans to empower themselves and to help them to fight the racism that they face everyday and to be strong in the system they live in everyday."