CHANCELLOR THORP DISAPPOINTED, SAYS PROTESTS GOT ‘OUT OF HAND’

Less than a day after Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo was run off from the University of North Carolina campus by volatile leftist protesters, school officials have responded.

In a letter to Tar Heel students, Chancellor Holden Thorp said he was disappointed that a group of student protesters “got out of hand” while disrupting Tancredo’s speech to an anti-illegal immigration group.

“We expect protests about controversial subjects at Carolina. That’s part of our culture,” Thorp said in the letter, noting that Tancredo felt threatened and left without making his remarks. “But we also pride ourselves on being a place where all points of view can be expressed and heard.

“There’s a way to protest that respects free speech and allows people with opposing views to be heard.”

But, as Thorp noted, “that didn’t happen last night.”

The school’s Department of Public Safety was forced to remove some of the students who yelled profanities at Tancredo, blocked him with a large banner that read “no dialogue with hate,” and even smashed out a window.

Once removed from the room in which Tancredo was scheduled to speak, police were forced to use pepper spray to control the protesters.

Thorp said he personally called Tancredo to apologize on behalf of the school and added that the Department of Public Safety was investigating this incident.

“They will pursue criminal charges if any are warranted,” said Thorp. “Our Division of Student Affairs is also investigating student involvement in the protest. If that investigation determines sufficient evidence, participating students could face Honor Court proceedings.”

You can view video of the event by clicking here.