By AMELIA BALL
Guest Columnist
Recently, I had the incredible opportunity of attending the Student Action Summit in Tampa, Fla., hosted by Turning Point USA, an American nonprofit organization that advocates for conservative values on high school, college, and university campuses.
Not only was this five-star event organized and presented in a spectacular way, but some of the most renowned leaders in the conservative movement spoke, including former President Donald J. Trump, Dr. Ben Carson, Former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and many others. It was a weekend of a lifetime where we were inspired and motivated to preserve Christian, conservative principles.
Not only did we hear from these outstanding speakers, but we also met other freedom-loving young people, shopped for patriotic and pro-life merchandise, and networked to find our places in the conservative movement.
There were a few groups of protestors outside, including “neo-Nazis” that some of the students confronted and interacted with. Because they were on public property, security could not force them to leave. Eventually, they dispersed and everything returned to normal. No violence occurred. It was an incredible, safe, and peaceful conference, one that we will never forget. We began Friday with excitement and anticipation and concluded Sunday with sadness that it was over, but with newfound fervor.
Much to our dismay, something happened the next day that, I fear, tainted the opinion that millions of Americans had of this event and all that attended.
Monday morning, the co-hosts of The View began criticizing the event right down to ridiculing the use of smoke machines. However, co-host Sarah Haines read a legal note saying that Turning Point USA condemned the “neo-Nazis” that were outside. Joy Behar exclaimed, “Where was DeSantis? That’s what I want to know.”
Whoopi Goldberg then chose to weigh in with the words that triggered public outrage. She declared, “You let them in and you knew what they were, so you were complicit.” Her words automatically caused millions of viewers to liken this event and all the attendees to Nazis. After a commercial break, Whoopi Goldberg clarified that the “neo-Nazis” were not inside the building, but that her statement had been metaphorical. She still went on to state that she felt like the protestors were “in the mix,” which they definitely were not.
Turning Point USA immediately issued a cease-and-desist letter demanding that she publicly apologize or further legal action would be taken and within hours, #SueTheView began trending on social media. In response, on Wednesday, co-host Sara Haines apologized for anything that they said that was “unclear” regarding the event. Later in the episode, Whoopi Goldberg finally emerged from her silence with a potentially artificial apologetic statement and concluded by saying, “My bad, I’m sorry.”
Although they apologized, it does not change what they said or reverse the damage done. It is regretful that young conservatives who love America cannot attend an event where they can meet other patriotic young Americans and hear from some of their favorite speakers without being equated to some of the most brutal, racist, and repulsive eugenicists in history.
Their fictitious accusations could follow each of us for the rest of our lives because countless people actually believe the things they say.
I am a strong proponent of free speech. It is the bedrock of a free society. I am also a firm believer that with free speech comes a great deal of responsibility, and when individuals like the co-hosts of The View make slanderous statements about others, including minors, they must expect to be held accountable.