This is in response to David Douglass's opinion piece. The First Amendment is not limited to writings that we all agree with. It is intended to be bulwark against silencing dissenting speech. Contrary to what Mr. Douglass stated in his article, hate speech is still protected by the First Amendment and defended by the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU. If burning the symbol our nation is protected speech, then inflammatory rhetoric from Milo Yiannopoulos is also protected. If what the Westboro Baptist Church (has to say) is protected, and what the KKK has to say is also protected, then his comments are also protected. I may not agree with what Mr. Yiannopoulos has to say, but he has the right to say it.

Don Dean is an employee in the MSU athletics department.