University of Chicago President Zimmer,

On October 26, 2016, Noche Diaz was arrested at the University of Chicago after giving a speech in the cafeteria. Noche was arrested and manhandled as he was peacefully leaving the cafeteria. He was charged with criminal trespass, which carries a one-year prison sentence. On top of all that, he was banned from entering the campus, under threat of re-arrest. Not only is this an unconscionable violation of the values of free speech and assembly, it even prevents Noche from finding and interviewing witnesses to defend against this charge.

Diaz is a revolutionary communist, a follower of Bob Avakian and a leader of Revolution Club. This is a case of singling out certain views and individuals for political repression through selective application of the law, and deprives the students and the university community more generally from hearing these views. This must not be tolerated.

We demand that the administration lift this ban and drop the charges immediately. And we support Noche Diaz in his determination to speak to the University community, Tuesday November 1 at 3 pm in the center of the main quad.