On Friday, May 10, Protestors trying to crash a celebration were denied entry to the assembly. They claimed they were invited, and not being able to protest in the middle of the event was a violation of free speech.

A male Princeton student broke into tears when he and his fellow activists were denied entry into a college staff member’s retirement celebration, The College Fix reported.

Two months ago, Princeton University announced a retirement event for Robert Durkee, who had worked at the school for nearly 50 years. The official notice reads “Princeton staff, faculty and community members are invited to a gathering on Friday, May 10.”

However, when May 10 arrived, members of Princeton IX Now, a student group dedicated to Title IX reforms, showed up at the event and were denied entrance by university-appointed “Open Expression Monitors.” These monitors, according to The Daily Princetonian, are staff from the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students tasked with “protect[ing] free speech and allow[ing] controversial speakers to safely visit campus.”

However, the Princetonian editors say the monitors “now impede student expression against the administration.” But … what expression was prevented at the Durkee event?

The eyebrow-raising moniker of “Open Expression Monitors” notwithstanding (for now), it’s fairly obvious the Princeton IX Now activists just wanted to make a scene at Durkee’s celebration, especially given recent history.

Not to mention, the man-bunned student who ended up in tears kept going on about his free speech rights being denied — a good indicator that he and his activist peers weren’t planning to just sit there and listen to Mr. Durkee’s half century of accomplishments.

Remember: It’s not free speech if you’re impeding those very same rights of others, especially at a planned event which has absolutely nothing to do with what you have a beef.

In their editorial, the Princetonian editors cleverly avoid noting that Durkee’s “reception” was merely a retirement event, nor do they mention Durkee’s name. Perhaps that’s because he hasn’t been involved with any Title IX controversy.

Also, why title the editorial “We Can’t Speak Freely” if Princeton IX Now’s purpose was simply attendance at the reception?

Regardless of the protestors claims on the matter, no one suppressed their free speech. They could still say what they wanted to, just not in the middle of a celebration where they weren’t let in.

What are your thoughts? Comment below.