Update on Federalist Society Speaker

Written By James Bacon

The Jefferson Council has received a response to its inquiries why a speech at the University of Virginia law school featuring Erin Hawley, senior counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom, was canceled.The Federalist Society made the decision "out of respect for the tragedy that occurred Sunday night," said Julia Jeanette Mroz, president of the UVa chapter. "As a student group, we felt it appropriate to follow the University’s lead in designating today a Day of Observance."Left-wing student groups had denounced the speech on the grounds that the Alliance is a "hate" group and Hawley's presence would make members of the LGBQT+ community feel uncomfortable.Those denunciations were not a factor in the decision to cancel the event. "No other circumstances bore on this decision," said Mroz, adding that she hopes can be rescheduled to the spring semester.We have updated our post about the event, accordingly.

James Bacon

After a 25-year career in Virginia journalism, James A. Bacon founded Bacon’s Rebellion in 2002 a blog with the goal of “Reinventing Virginia for the 21st Century.” Its focus is on building more prosperous, livable and sustainable communities. In recent years he has concentrated more on the spread of “woke” ideology in K-12 schools, the criminal justice system, higher education, and medicine.

In 2021, he co-founded The Jefferson Council to preserve free speech, intellectual diversity, and the Jeffersonian legacy at his alma mater the University of Virginia. He previously served as the organization’s executive director, now serving as congributing editor.

Aside from blogging, Bacon writes books. His first was Boomergeddon: How Runaway Deficits Will Bankrupt the Country and Ruin Retirement for Aging Baby Boomers — And What You Can Do About It, followed by Maverick Miner: How E. Morgan Massey Became a Coal Industry Legend and a work of science fiction, Dust Mites: the Siege of Airlock Three.

A Virginian through-and-through, Bacon lives in Richmond with his wife Laura.

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