WASHINGTON — On October 30, Article III Project (A3P) Senior Counsel Josh Hammer spoke at a Federalist Society event at the Loyola University Chicago School of Law which was canceled after a coordinated mob of students interrupted the event and forced it to end. Hammer had to be escorted out of the room and driven away by police to ensure his safety.
On October 31, the Student Bar Association of Loyola University Chicago’s School of Law issued a statement supporting the mob and the silencing of Hammer, claiming that “threats and hate speech will not be tolerated.” The group also said the school values “intellectual openness, civility, and community,” which obviously runs contradictory to the association’s own statement and the behavior of the mob. The group demanded for Hammer to be “barred from reentry” to Loyola’s campus.
Hammer was also scheduled to speak at a national Federalist Society event on October 31 which was inexplicably canceled.
Josh Hammer, Senior Counsel of the Article III Project, released the following statement.
“I was looking forward to an engaging debate about presidential immunity, lawfare, and the 2024 election with the Loyola University Chicago School of Law’s Federalist Society chapter on October 30. Unfortunately, dozens of keffiyeh-clad, pro-jihadi protesters disrupted the event—which wasn’t in any way whatsoever about the conflict in the Middle East—solely because I am Jewish and a Zionist. Targeting a speaker based on his Jewishness and support for the Jewish state of Israel is textbook anti-Semitism. These crybullies are now attempting to claim the mantle of victimhood after being called out for their extremist support of Hamas and other U.S.-recognized Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
“Due to the threatening and intimidating behavior of this far-left, pro-terrorist mob, two campus police officers were forced to escort me out of the law school building and into a squad car. I was physically assaulted by at least one pro-Hamas lunatic on the way out the door. They then drove away and safely evacuated me off the premises. Suffice it to say that defending free speech and fostering a safe environment for campus speakers and open debate are not the Loyola Law administration’s values.
“The unfortunate reality is that here, there, and everywhere, caving to a mob only encourages bad behavior. I know from experience. Last November, my Young America’s Foundation speech at the University of Michigan was forcibly shouted down for 40 minutes by a pro-Hamas mob. Only later in the academic year, after Michigan President Santa Ono was personally targeted by student jihadis, did he act to protect speech from the heckler’s veto. Funny how that works. Loyola Law must now investigate where it failed on October 30, make proper amends, and commit to protecting future campus speakers who hold views that may not appeal to every single student.
“Furthermore, I was also scheduled to speak at a separate Federalist Society event in Chicago on October 31. In the aftermath of the mini-pogrom at Loyola Law, FedSoc canceled that event. This is cancel culture of the organization’s own speakers, and nothing less than extraordinary intellectual and moral cowardice. FedSoc’s decision to ignore the legitimate security concerns of its speaker and instead reward an angry, Jew-hating ‘Students for Justice in Palestine’ mob reveals a glaring rot in leadership at the top of its current organizational structure. FedSoc must chart a bold, new course as it finalizes the selection of a new president and successor to the outgoing Gene Meyer.”
Mike Davis, Founder and President of the Article III Project, released the following statement in support of Hammer.
“The Article III Project fully supports senior counsel Josh Hammer and condemns antisemitic attempts by Hamas supporters to silence a brilliant Jewish voice. This is an all too familiar situation where terrorist sympathizers play the victim when they’re in fact the perpetrator. Rudely interrupting someone else’s speech is not protest, it’s an attempt to intimidate and silence. These wannabe fascists aim to control speech and think they can dictate the terms of debate and what others can and cannot say.
“The spoiled children at the Loyola Student Bar Association should continue their studies because they do not know the meaning of the words they use. Mockery is not dangerous. Only the intellectually shallow, lazy, and dishonest equate this to a ‘threat.’ These cupcakes at Loyola Law are an embarrassment to the legal profession. Hopefully they will eventually grow up and join the ranks of adults who can handle opposing views.
“The Federalist Society’s cancellation of its event with Josh Hammer is cowardice in the face of a mob. It’s no wonder the organization is losing its influence. FedSoc’s embarrassing response to the crocodile tears of terrorist sympathizers is just another nail in the coffin of a once-storied debate society. That it can no longer facilitate truly free and open debate without censorship is a shame. Mobs only have as much power as they are given by those too afraid to stand up to them.”
The Article III Project (A3P) was founded by veteran GOP operative and attorney Mike Davis, who, after helping win the Senate confirmation battles of Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, developed the reputation as a “take-no-prisoners conservative eager to challenge the left with hardball tactics,” as reported in The New York Times.
A3P defends constitutionalist judges, punches back on radical assaults on judicial independence (like court-packing) and opposes judicial and other nominees who are outside of the mainstream. Davis previously served as Chief Counsel for Nominations to Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary and led the Senate confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh and a record number of circuit court judges.
