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'Fight fire with fire'

By Robert Stacy McCain
October 18, 2007

David Horowitz

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Colleges and universities across the country are bracing for campus showdowns over "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week," which begins Monday, but has already sparked headlines nationwide.

The brainchild of conservative author David Horowitz, next week's calendar will feature speakers, panel discussions and other events aimed at heightening awareness of the ideology that motivates terrorist groups like al Qaeda and Hamas.

Mr. Horowitz will speak at Princeton University, the University of Wisconsin, Emory University, Columbia University and George Washington University. Other speakers scheduled for campus appearances as part of next week's event include Ann Coulter (Tulane University and the University of Southern California); Robert Spencer, author of "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam" (Brown, DePaul and the University of Rhode Island); and former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum, who will speak at three universities in his home state of Pennsylvania.

Opponents are strongly denouncing the project.

The Revolutionary Communist Party called it "a Nuremberg Rally for the 21st century," while the Socialist Workers Party accused Mr. Horowitz of promoting "standard right-wing myths and stereotypes ... to demonize Arabs and Muslims, and justify U.S. war atrocities in the Middle East."

The Muslim American Society will hold a press conference today at the National Press Club to "announce its plan to initiate a national campaign called 'Students United Against Hate' " in response to Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week.

MAS official Ibrahim Abdil-Mu'id Ramey said his group intends to "bring together a large community of students and student leaders organized against racism and religious hatred — especially the brand of hatred and intolerance exhibited by David Horowitz and his anti-Muslim and anti-progressive allies."

Provoking protest is nothing new to Mr. Horowitz, an ex-Marxist and a leader of the 1960s New Left who has been the target of pie-throwing incidents during his campus appearances as a conservative speaker. He doesn't mince words when describing his former ideological comrades.

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