Over 200 years ago, the founding fathers of the United States of America added the Bill of Rights to the constitution. The first amendment gave each citizen of the United Stated the inalienable right to freedom of speech. It is astonishing that over 200 years later, the debates over freedom of speech still rage on. Freedom of speech is a tenet upon which our country was built, and even today there is infringement on this tenet.

Ann Coulter's speech, scheduled for next week, was cancelled at Berkeley University under the excuse that Berkeley had received reports that Ms. Coulter would be in "grave danger" if she gave the speech.

Berkeley University is known worldwide as one of the staunchest supporters of free speech, and in the 1960s it was the home of many Vietnam War protests, civil rights movements, and the growing counterculture of the decade. Berkeley was a political hotspot of the1960s, yet today a different face is emerging. The Berkeley that valued free speech so much is now blocking other's rights to free speech if their ideals do not align.

Berkeley has always leaned left, and is famous for its liberal opinions. However, Berkeley is now quelling the opinions of conservatives, canceling conservative speeches, and seeing a rise in on-campus violence.

In the months following the election, Berkeley was torn apart by violence, opposing groups took to their fists instead of using their voices.

Today, conservatives and rabble-rousers have been banned from speaking lest they get attacked by angry mobs. Oh the irony.

The once great Berkeley, lauded as the free speech capital of the world, is now stifling freedom of speech.