Pastor Terry Jones Told to Stay Away From UC Campus After Threats
The University of California, Irvine, turned Rev. Terry Jones away on Thursday, when police were notified of suspicious activity that may have led to violence on campus surrounding his visit.
The controversial Florida church pastor, who planned a mass Quran burning demonstration last year that threatened to put a great strain on Muslim-Christian relations in the United States, wanted to preach in front of the school’s library and talk to students about his new presidential campaign.
The Boston Herald reported that it is not known what kind of threats were made and who the perpetrators were, but Jones’ inflammatory message angered many Muslim communities across the country who do not take kindly to what they view as “hateful” speech by the pastor.
The university moved to clarify that it has not asked Jones to leave because of his views, but on the grounds of safety concerns for its students and everyone on the campus.
Dr. John R. Miles, a professor of English and Religious Studies at UC Irvine, said to the Christian Post, “Safety and freedom of speech do not stand in an either/or relationship. We want both, and we can have both with a little care and patience. The Rev. Jones has not been told that he may never speak at UC Irvine.”
However, Dr. Miles clarified that few at the university have “any sympathy with his message.”
The professor also shared a press release from Dec. 1 by the Institute for Religious and Cultural Competency, an Orange County interfaith organization, who said the pastor was invited by anyone at UC Irvine, but would have been allowed to hold his lecture based on the free-speech laws.
The organization, however, explained that it firmly opposes Jones’ message, and that the Christians, Jews, Buddhists and others in its organization are “proud to count Orange County Muslims as our fellow Americans, our colleagues, and our friends.”
