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Raymond Luc Levasseur of United Freedom Front to Speak at UMass
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by Scott Wu | November 10, 2009 at 12:45 pm
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Raymond Luc Levasseur, founder and former leader of the revolutionary group United Freedom Front, is scheduled to speak at the University of Massachusetts on Thursday. Previous invitation had been canceled due to pressure pressure from Governor Deval Patrick and family members of victims of the group's attacks. A group of faculty members invited him independently to an on-campus event despite oppositions.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries canceled the event last week after “strong reaction” from Gov. Deval Patrick to the scheduled speech, but Levasseur’s appearance was rescheduled for Thursday because of the school’s anti-censorship rules.
Raymond Luc Levasseur founded the United Freedom Front (UFF) in 1975. The group was involved in a series of bombings and bank robberies between 1976 and 1984. Raymond Luc Levasseur was put behind bars for 18 years, and was released in 2004.
The University of Massachusetts administration did not endorse the event, but decided not to intervene.
"Although the university administration questions the wisdom and common sense of this judgment, the institution must respect academic freedom. As repugnant as we find this invitation, the administration’s commitment to academic freedom must be honored. While the university administration does not approve, endorse or support the decision to invite this individual to campus, academic freedom must be paramount for the university community.”
The talk is meant to develop meaningful exchange on terrorism, in the Amherst Libraries' annual Colloquium on Social Change.
On Thursday, November 12, at 7:00 p.m., Ray Luc Levasseur will speak on “Ray Luc Levasseur: Defendant in the Landmark Sedition Trial of Western Mass Returns after 20 Years,” with opening remarks by Bill Newman, the Director of the Western Regional Office of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. The presentation takes place in the Amherst Room, 10th Floor, Campus Center, UMass Amherst.
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STANLEY SIENDA (not verified)at 21:09 on November 14th, 2009
GOOD LUCK RAY; HARTFORD FEDERAL JAIL 1988