Over the years, the students of Georgetown University have taken a stand against the invitation of certain individuals to come to campus and speak. Georgetown students have a history of protesting through the disruption, and at times, the forced cancellation of planned speeches.
1969: Mayor Joseph Alioto
In 1969, then mayor of San Francisco Joseph Alioto, was invited by a student to speak at Georgetown University. Alioto accepted and was scheduled to deliver a talk, “Law on the Campus” in Gaston Hall on March 13. Meanwhile, the recently formed Georgetown chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), fervently opposed Alioto’s use of the San Francisco police to keep the SF State University campus open after leftist students threatened to shut down the campus via strike.1In the two days leading up to Alioto’s talk, both the DC Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI warned the University about possible disruptors. The morning of Alioto’s speech, SDS distributed flyers around student dorms that announced a rally against “Adolph” Alioto an hour before Alioto’s scheduled talk. The University increased the number of ushers for the event from twelve to forty-five, but took no additional protective measures.
As Alioto prepared to enter Gaston Hall, SDS protestors lined the hallways. Recognizing Alioto, protestors began shouting “grab him.”2 The protestors converged on the mayor’s party, and one managed to strike Alioto before he entered Gaston Hall. When Alioto took the podium to speak, a University graduate student charged and toppled the podium before being knocked unconscious by Alioto’s security. Protestors clashed with ushers, and the lights cut out for fifteen seconds. Alioto and his security escaped from Gaston via the fire escape. They regrouped in the Gervase Building from which Alioto was forced to deliver the speech he had prepared.
As the SDS protestors faced potential expulsion or suspension, they continued to distribute flyers days later. These flyers read in part, “There must be a time for talking to stop and meaningful action to begin. Mayor Alioto would have us debate forever . . . One doesn't dialogue about oppression. The way to fight such things is to deny the oppressors . . . their freedom to rationalize such as speech."3
1973: President Nixon
In January 1973, a University committee met without its sole student representative and elected then President Richard Nixon as the speaker for the main campus commencement ceremony in the spring. The student representative, John Flood (COL ‘73), criticized his absence and objected to the selection of President Nixon arguing, “The selection of Richard M. Nixon as commencement speaker is repugnant not only to the majority of my fellow students but also to a great number of faculty and administrators."4 The student body president also urged the University to reconsider its selection, and several student leaders threatened to stage a senior walkout during the commencement ceremony if President Nixon attended. Although the University moved forward with its invitation, President Nixon declined the invitation to speak. The University then chose Rev. William Baum, Archbishop-elect of Washington as the 1973 principal commencement speaker.5
2019: Marc Morano
In September 2019, in response to a Climate Change Forum hosted by the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service at the McCourt School of Public Policy with MSNBC, Our Daily Planet, and New York Magazine, the Georgetown University College Republicans (GUCR) hosted a rebuttal event. The GUCR event highlighted conservative opinions including that of Marc Morano, climate change skeptic and author of “The Politically Incorrect Guide to Climate Change.” After the moderators introduced Morano, several protestors sitting in began to disrupt the event. One protestor stood up and offered her own introduction — highlighting Morano’s history of working with fossil fuel industries and critiques of climate change scientists. Another protestor in a clown costume blew an air horn.6
Outside, additional protestors played music and pressed signs against the window. As the disruption continued, GUPD arrived. When the protestors refused to leave, GUPD ordered everyone in attendance to leave for ten minutes. Those who reentered promised to abide by the Student Code of Conduct and were warned that disruptors would face disciplinary actions. Protestors with signs were allowed to reenter as long as there were no vocal protests. Other protestors remained outside chanting for climate change until well after the event ended.7
2019: Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan
In October 2019, then Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan was scheduled to keynote an immigration policy conference at the Law Center. During his previous tenure as commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, McAleenan had helped implement the controversial family separation policy. When he moved to speak at the podium, protestors stood with large black banners that read “hate is not normal” and “stand with immigrants.” When McAleenan tried to speak, the protestors began reading the names of children who have died while in the custody of U.S. Border Patrol.8
McAleenan remained calm saying, “As a career law enforcement professional, I’ve dedicated my career to protecting the right to free speech and all the values we hold dear in America, from all threats . . . so we’ll go ahead and try one more time.”9When McAleenan moved to restart, he was cut off again by shouts of, “What do we do when children are under attack? Stand up, fight back!”10 McAleenan then thanked the event organizers and left the stage without delivering his speech.
Recent Protests against Conservative Speakers and Groups
In 2020, Georgetown College Republicans invited Eric Trump (MSB'06) and Charlie Kirk, a conservative commentator, to speak to students at Lohrfink Auditorium. In response, Georgetown College Demcrats and Hoyas for Immigrant Rights (HFIR) released statements condemning the two speakers' views and "bigotry." During the actual event, 30 students dressed in orange shirts provided by HFIR protested the speakers by silently leaving when Trump and Kirk walked on stage. Kirk made sarcastic comments about the protesters, saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, the tolerant left."11
In November 2023, Fr. James Martin, S.J., an open advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in the Catholic Church, was invited to speak on campus to celebrate Jesuit Heritage Month. This provoked protests from an alt-right Catholic advocacy group called Traditional, Family, Property (TFP) who have consistently denounced Fr. Martin's liberal views. The protestors stood in front of Georgetown's front gates, holding posters with words like “Pray for conversion don’t spread perversion." This immediately drew the attention of Georgetown students, who assembled across of TFP with pride flags as a protest against the protesters. One student brought a drum to play to drown out homophobic chants of the TFP.12
- 1Kitsock, Greg. “1969 Alioto Speech Marred By SDS Student Demonstration.” The Hoya. 17 March 1978, p.2.
- 2Id. at p.7.
- 3“Disciplinary Action Planned Against Alioto’s Assailants.” The Hoya. 20 March 1969, p.1.
- 4Lang, Andy. “Nixon May Address G.U. Commencement; Students Cry Foul.” The Hoya. 19 Jan. 1973, p.1.
- 5Lestina, Fred. “Protesting the President.” The Hoya. 12 April 2005.
- 6Cuccia, Annemarie and Watson, Sarah. “Protests Disrupt Rebuttal to Climate Change Forum.” The Georgetown Voice. 19 Sept. 2019.
- 7Id.
- 8Woolley, John and Solly, Isaac. “Trump Official Forced to Leave Immigration Event.” The Georgetown Voice. 11 Oct. 2019.
- 9Miroff, Nick. “Protesters shout homeland security chief off Georgetown University stage.” The Washington Post. 7 Oct. 2019.
- 10Id.
- 11Solly, Isaac. "Eric Trump appearance draws condemnation." The Voice, February 27, 2020. https://georgetownvoice.com/2020/02/27/eric-trump-appearance-draws-protest-condemnation/
- 12Jamil, Aamir. "Georgetown University Students Protest Alt-Right Group." The Hoya, November 18, 2023. https://thehoya.com/georgetown-university-students-protest-alt-right-group/
