UNM will not tolerate acts of racism or xenophobia

UNM Daily Lobo ^ | 9/19/07 | Rita Martinez-Purson, Cheo Torres

[Peter R. Lynch]

Editor,

We wish to respond to the recent incident involving the desecration of the Mexican national flag that was raised Friday on the south side of Scholes Hall.

The incident is still being investigated, but what we do know at this point is that after a ceremony celebrating the Mexican independence day - Dieciseis de Septiembre - the flag that was raised during the celebration was subsequently taken down and, as we understand it, ripped to shreds.

We understand that a suspect has been apprehended by the police, but the investigation is still ongoing at this time. We want it to be understood that the flag desecration is abhorrent to President David Schmidly and everyone in the administration.

In light of incidents that have taken place in the past several days involving students being targeted because of their race or nationality, we want it to be known that UNM will not tolerate acts of racism and xenophobia. These incidents will be answered with disciplinary and/or legal action against the responsible individuals. The person who perpetrated this despicable act will answer for it.

We wish to offer apologies on behalf of UNM to the Mexican Consul to New Mexico, Juan Manuel Solano; to the Mexican Student Association; to all Mexican nationals who have been affected by this deplorable act; and to anyone else who has been adversely affected by this incident. Please know we are doing everything in our power to make sure this act will be sternly

addressed.

Rita Martinez-Purson

Interim Vice President,

Institutional Diversity

Cheo Torres

Vice President

for Student Affairs

[Peter R. Lynch]

My fellow Americans,

My name is Peter Ryan Lynch; I am a student at UNM. I am a decorated 8-year veteran of the US military, honorably discharge this July. I am appalled a foreign banner flew unaccompanied on UNM campus flagpole for three days, including a US holiday. I am an American passionate about our country and I would feel the same way if it were ANY foreign banner.

The Mexican flag was flying over UNM campus unaccompanied by an American flag on U.S. Constitution Day 17 September 2007.

According to United States Code (Federal Law): "The flag should be displayed on all days especially on… Constitution Day, September 17…."

"The flag should be displayed daily on or near the main administration building of every public institution."

"The flag should be displayed during school days in or near every schoolhouse."

Throughout history, flying a nation’s banner is a claim of ownership. To do this on U.S. Constitution Day is an insult to all Americans. I am outraged that UNM administration allowed this happen. I thought before my class was over they would address the issue. I left class, and the foreign banner was still unaccompanied. I went to the dean’s office, pleading for action. I also notified Army ROTC, who has the honor of raising and lowering the US flag on UNM campus this month. I waited one and one half-hours after these notifications to take action myself. I made a profound statement and tore down this foreign banner. My actions although overzealous, are warranted.

Americans have one of the most diverse cultures on the planet, we embrace our differences, and unless you are a foreign visitor or illegal immigrant then your nationality is American! We are all equals under the Constitution and Stars and Stripes that protect us. Americans should fly their historical nations’ banners with pride. UNM is a public institution, governed by the laws of our nation, and on 17 September 2007, Federal law was broken; American’s are insulted. I am livid, with all the press coverage, only Julian "Top" Martinez said anything in my defense. Furthermore, the press has a responsibility to gather all the facts before printing.

I would like to assure El Centro de la Raza that hate or racism did not motivate my actions. I ask UNM administration specifically, David Schmidly (University President), Rita Martinez-Purson (Interim Vice President for Academic Diversity), and Cheo Torres (Vice President for Academic Affairs), to apologize to all the American Students, including Mexican-American students, for allowing a foreign banner to fly over UNM for three days in violation of Federal laws.

Sincerely, Peter Ryan Lynch

[pissant]

Maybe someone needed some cheap TP.

[ken21]

ouch!

the unm is in violation of u.s. laws.

[VOA]

UNM will not tolerate acts of racism or xenophobia

Apparently, not acts of American patriotism either.

Funny, burning an American flag is a "free speech" act.

But removal of foreign flag flown in breech of flag protocol...
now that's a hangin' offense.

[300winmag]

We wish to respond to the recent incident involving the desecration of the Mexican national flag that was raised Friday on the south side of Scholes Hall.

The US Supreme Court said we all have the right to desecrate an American flag as part of our right of free speech. Apparently alien flags on American soil are protected by the part of the same ruling written in invisible ink.

[Rembrandt]

“My name is Peter Ryan Lynch; I am a student at UNM.”

Peter, you should really consider making a run for office, perhaps Fed. Representative. Go out to conservative leaning money people and tell your story.Contact your Federal Republican Senator. Whether you want it or not, you are a worthy candidate for office.

[BnBlFlag]

But they wouldn’t say a damn thing if La Raza members desecrated an American Flag.
I bet they would really soil their Britches if someone dropped a Koran.

[Frank_2001]

Guess that’s what the Court meant by “emanations” and “penumbras”/s

[Obie Wan]

Rita Martinez-Purson

Interim Vice President,

Institutional Diversity

Cheo Torres

Vice President

for Student Affairs

Just a hunch,but I don’t think these people are Irish !!!

[kcvl]

Rita Martinez-Purson

Whether the vandalism was racially motivated or not, it was offensive, especially to the Hispanic community, Martinez-Purson said.

"There's still an impact that has to be dealt with," she said. "He did insult them. His thoughtless behavior had consequences."

Cheo Torres

“No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or IN PLACE OF, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof...”

[Lancey Howard]

Excellent! Welcome to Free Republic.

Semper Fidelis,
LH

[VOA]

Apparently alien flags on American soil are protected by the part
of the same ruling written in invisible ink.

You just reminded me of that event when someone messed with
a United Nations flag in San Diego.
I can't recall the outcome, but messing with the UN flag was
apparently a big deal to the local police (or their bosses).

Gad, it's probably been a dozen years since that happened.

[Archon of the East]

And we will not tolerate disrespect to our Country in the name of your perceived rights.

[ThomasPaine2000]

Nor do I think that R. Peter Lynch is either, I do believe he his an American....

[Just A Nobody]

Welcome to FreeRepublic! Thank you for your service to our country. It is an honor to have you with us.

[Domandred]

I swear one of these days someone is going to raise a Mexican flag on US Soil and people aren’t going to just take it down, it will be much much worse eventually.

[WayneM]

Welcome to Free Republic, Peter! Glad to have you here

[Graybeard58]

Welcome to F.R.

[Altura Ct.]

“celebrating the Mexican independence day”

The hell you say??

Remember the Alamo
remember our heroes
Remember why the died
their sacrifice

Freedom
will never die
From our ashes Texas will rise

We won’t surrender
We won’t retreat
our spirit they can’t defeat

We fought with honor
We lived with pride
as free texans we’re gonna die

Remember the Alamo
remember our heroes
Remember why they died
their sacrifice

Before dawn
we’ll all be gone
but a new star will be born

Don’t forget our sacrifice
defend this land
even with your life

Against the tiranny
we standed alone
we were just men
made of flesh and bones

David Crockett
Jim Bowie
William Travis
Tejanos
Free Texas
Muerte a Santa Anna

Victory or death

[crazyshrink]

Mr. Lynch.......Ty for your sevice to our country as well!!!

Whatever you do, don’t put their school addresses or emails on FR.

[YHAOS]

Ms. Rita Martinez-Purson & Mr. Cheo Torres:

Please explain why the destruction of a Mexican flag is not an 'expression' protected by the right of 'free speech', as is the destruction of an American flag just such an expression.

Try not to fall into too great an exercise of double standards in the process, if your intellectual level permits the possibility.

[Altura Ct.]

Peter you do America proud. I appreciate your courage and thank you for your service.

I would like to assure El Centro de la Raza that hate or racism did not motivate my actions. I ask UNM administration specifically, David Schmidly (University President), Rita Martinez-Purson (Interim Vice President for Academic Diversity), and Cheo Torres (Vice President for Academic Affairs), to apologize to all the American Students, including Mexican-American students, for allowing a foreign banner to fly over UNM for three days in violation of Federal laws.

I appreciate your sentiments above but rest assured LaRaza hates you and apparently American as well. It will be a cold day in hell before they ever apologize.

[Tainan]

Welcome to FR and best fortune to you.

[WayneM]

Student tears Mexican flag; suspect remains at large
by Jeremy Hunt

Daily Lobo

A student took down a Mexican flag from a flagpole outside Scholes Hall Monday, tore it and took it to the Air Force ROTC office, police said.

A summons was issued for Peter Lynch, 30, by the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court for criminal damage to property, said Lt. Pat Davis, spokesman for UNM Police.

Davis said Lynch is not a member of ROTC, and it is unclear why he took the flag to that office.

Lynch has not been charged because UNMPD cannot find him, Davis said.

UNMPD investigated the vandalism as a potential hate crime, but witnesses from the ROTC office told police it was not a racially motivated crime, Davis said.

“He was frustrated a foreign flag was flown without an American flag nearby,” he said. “We’re basically investigating it on witness statements.”

The Mexican Student Association raised the flag outside Scholes Hall on Friday for Mexican Independence Day, said Cheo Torres, vice president for academic affairs.

Mabel Gonzales, president of the Mexican Student Association, declined to comment.

Torres and interim vice president for institutional diversity Rita Martinez-Purson issued an apology Tuesday from the University for the incident.

“This sort of incident hurts everyone,” Torres said. “It’s something that you don’t expect to see at a place like the University of New Mexico where we celebrate diversity.”

Martinez-Purson said the incident caught her off-guard, as well.

“I don’t think anything really prepares you for this type of vindictive behavior,” she said. “Obviously, we need to have strong dialog across campus about respect for other people and their cultures.”

Whether the vandalism was racially motivated or not, it was offensive, especially to the Hispanic community, Martinez-Purson said.

“There’s still an impact that has to be dealt with,” she said. “He did insult them. His thoughtless behavior had consequences.”

The University won’t tolerate that kind of behavior, President David Schmidly said.

“It’s inexcusable to desecrate a flag,” he said. “I’m not going to be very pleasant to deal with on this issue.”

What makes the situation worse is that it was a Mexican flag, Schmidly said.

“For God’s sake, New Mexico was part of Mexico at one time,” he said. “There’s tremendous ties, and we have a large population of Hispanics that live in our state and many of them have relatives and connections to Mexico.”

http://www.dailylobo.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=1b9dfb67-94cb-4054-8371-bd68b2380b1e

[TrueKnightGalahad]

I’m happy to see a true patriot stand up for all Americans. You don’t appear to be one who will back down from a rightful position and issue the usual craven “apology” political correctness demands. I think you will find much support here at Free Republic, even including contributing to any legal bills you may incur defending yourself. You are right and they are wrong, even if you need to make a federal case of this matter.

[SmoothTalker]

I’m sure they’d send out a similar email for the American flag [/sarc]

[biff]

“New Mexico WAS a part of Mexico at one time.” WAS, WAS, WAS.
By the way, UNM big wigs, New Mexico became a member of the United States in 1912, just in case y’all need to update your history books.

[ROP_RIP]

You've got guts man. I wish I could say I would have done the same thing.

The criminal matter will probably be a slap on the wrist but make sure you've got a good lawyer fighting the school's disciplinary board. Set up a defense fund and blow this thing through the roof.

The only way to take back our country is to make sure every single American knows exactly what the seditious Left is up to. The silent majority is on our side but most of them are still sleeping.

[Lancey Howard]

Red,

Check out Peter’s open letter (second half of original post, near top). He is a decorated 8-year military veteran. Please ping your list.

FRegards,
LH

[300winmag]

I can't recall the outcome, but messing with the UN flag was apparently a big deal to the local police (or their bosses).

The state of Michigan has "UN day" once a year, where they fly the UN flag in Lansing. There are always lots of protesters. The state police warn them that it's okay to burn an American flag, but they'll be busted if they touch the UN flag.

As I always suspected, the "symbolic speech" argument in the flag-burning ruling only applies to the American flag. All other alien flags are protected by American laws.

And I like using the word "alien" because it does sound sinister. My grandparents were immigrants. They came here to stay, and live by the rules. They weren't aliens here to live as parasites off of the host.

[Lancey Howard]

“It’s inexcusable to desecrate a flag,” he said. “I’m not going to be very pleasant to deal with on this issue.” What makes the situation worse is that it was a Mexican flag, Schmidly said. “For God’s sake, New Mexico was part of Mexico at one time,” he said.

Wow!! This guy Schmidly is a real assclown! Did he really say this stuff?

[Lancey Howard]

Also, (( ping )) to post #24.

[DesScorp]

So desecrating a Mexican flag in America is a hate crime, but desecrating an American flag is protected speech. Do I have that right?

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

Now Pete,,,Ya' Just Had The Wrong Flag Up On Your/Our Side. Here Ya' Go,,,Welcome To FR...;0)

[Domandred]

From the Library President at UNM:

---

It has been quite a week already for those who hate the First Amendment and free speech on college campuses around the country - from stopping the displaying of a flag raised in front of Scholes Hall to silencing too many questions concerning government leaders at a public forum at the University of Florida.

On our campus, an individual took it upon himself to remove a symbol of Mexican independence and obstructed the expression of pride by those who raised the flag. At the University of Florida, the campus police took it upon themselves to silence a student with Tasers and obstructed the speech of those who wished to question the motives of our country’s leaders.

These agents of injustice who desire to control our First Amendment right to free speech hide behind patriotism or the necessity to keep order because we are at war. Or probably, the tragedy at Virginia Tech galvanized the need to control every aspect of a campus.

The rights enumerated in our Constitution, including free speech, are not conditional. They are not fleeting. They are inalienable and people need to start getting ticked off by the fact that we are being made strangers to the law that is supposed to secure these rights. You may not agree with what the Mexican flag expresses or what University of Florida student Andrew Meyer said, but you should be willing to fight for his right to say what he did.

Carsen Bentley

President

College Libertarians

---

Nice rolling the flag and the “don’t taz me bro” guy in one issue.

[SeafoodGumbo]

Hell of a job!!

Pics from a high school in L.A. this May.

[Domandred]

Just re-read it. Didn’t even notice the VTech thing in there on the first reading.

[353FMG]

Today it’s a Mexican flag, tomorrow it will be the Iranian flag and next week it could be the North Korean flag.

[Peter R. Lynch]

Yes, I am facing Criminal Charges if anyone want to check out the Governor Bill Richardson’s MySpace page and send him an email?

The state of New Mexico is charging me with Criminal Damage...

Who wants to claim ownership of that flag now?

Also the university is charging me with...

2.18. of the Student code of Conduct...

Any other acts or omissions which affect adversely University functions or University-sponsored activities, disrupt community living on campus, interfere with the rights of others to the pursuit of their education, or otherwise affect adversely the processes of the University.

So this was a University-sponsored activity.

[SergeiRachmaninov]

Good on ya, lad!

[Peter R. Lynch]

Yes, I am facing Criminal Charges if anyone wants to check out the Governor Bill Richardson’s MySpace page and send him an email?

The state of New Mexico is charging me with Criminal Damage...

[Altura Ct.]

Are you getting any support from students or any local support?

[Twink]

Ditto. Well said. My grandparents came to this country for a better life and worked hard to achieve it without any help from anyone, including the government. I support the person who took measures to flag flying (Lynch?) seriously.

Amazing that it’s ok to burn the American Flag but other nations’ flag, UN flag? WTH?, are off limits.

[ROP_RIP]

You may not agree with what the Mexican flag expresses

Uhm... sedition?

[Peter R. Lynch]

Are you getting any support from students or any local support?

Today is the first time I have spoken since my REACTION, I did not act.. I reacted to the situation...

[GOP_Raider]

Sad to see UNM taking the political correctness thought control route here.

[Does so]

The "Burning-the-American-Flag-Amendment" failed by one vote in 2006.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/06/27/flag.burning/index.html

Maybe if we added the Mexican flag to the amendment—it will pass?

[Tai_Chung]

I don’t understand why the US would celebrate Mexican independence day. Does Mexico celebrate the 4th of July?

[Exton1]

WE are loosing this country due to name calling. All crimes by illegals or minorities are met with “RACIST” should you object of point out the crime.
THIS HAS TO END.
From now on we should consider it a badge of courage and proof of being a true American to be called a RACIST OF XENOPHOBE by the Left, for it means we are sticking up for AMERICAN values.

[Khepri]

So this was a University-sponsored activity.

Write Tancredo and get him in on this...

If the school insists on this behavior they should have their federal funds withheld...something like that...grrrrr