The Right to a Free Exchange of Ideas

Protesters against Republican state Representative Duke were shown prior to the speech. The introduction and remarks were frequently interrupted by outbreaks of chanting and cheering from the protesters. Over the chants of the protesters, Rep. Duke began his speech with an appeal to the First Amendment and respect for this cornerstone of American freedoms. He said, “Suppression does not always end up in suppressing the ideas. Sometimes it spurs people on, and spurs a love of freedom on for all people.” He talked about his views on race, affirmative action, welfare, and taxes, which he called “The Agenda for America Today.” Rep. Duke is campaigning for the governorship of Louisiana. A former member of the Democratic Party, Rep. Duke has also run for the presidency in 1988 as a Populist Party candidate, and last year in a bid for the U.S. Senate received 43.5 percent of the vote against a three-term incumbent. In 1980, Rep. Duke left his position as the Grand Wizard of the Knights of t close