YAF's hate is national, not just local

When the Southern Poverty law center labelled MSU YAF a hate group they thought it was a rogue group.

SPLC's Heidi Beirich is quoted saying "In the case of national YAF, they don't have any of these principles or beliefs at all," Beirich said. "It's a totally legit conservative outfit. Nothing they believe has anything to do with what Kyle Bristow says. "

However findings by YAF Watch investigations and sources have dug up other racist and homophobic YAF groups around the country.

We'll start with Penn State young Americans for Freedom. Founded in 1992 this group is not without it's share of controversy.

Story #1 Fliers cause controversy
In 2000 while promoting speaker Reginald Jones who came to Penn State to speak about "How Hip-Hop Beat the Welfare State", YAF caused controversy with fliers.

From the Daily Collegian (Penn State Student Paper)

Black Caucus organized a protest of the advertising techniques used by Young
Americans for Freedom to promote the speech they sponsored, which included a
handbill that said "Hey bee-atch, see this spee-atch!" and a sign that said
"YAFrican History Month."

Jones himself did not agree with the ads either.

Jones began his speech by expressing his displeasure with the ads.

"I was bothered by it, especially because I don't use that language," said Jones,
addressing about 80 standing protesters and 120 seated people. "The fervor that
you (protesters) show is something new to me."

Story #2 College Republicans Chairman Brian Battaglia gets in trouble for posting Halloween pictures of over sodomized frat guy, and a white guy in black face. A Klan hood was also reported at the party. These pictures were found with a Salon blog

The Daily Collegian Reported that their were calls for resignation. A subsequent article shows YAF Support for Battaglia.

Matthew Valkovic, Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) vice chairman, another
conservative group, said he resigned from his position after his group's meeting
Thursday night because he could not endorse YAF's support of the College
Republicans or Battaglia.
"The portrayal of Takkeem in blackface and the use
of a hood as a Klan member was not freedom of speech, it was hate speech," he
said.
Valkovic said he was not in attendance at Battaglia's party.
He
added the College Republicans and YAF need to talk with Black Caucus and USG to
make amends.
"We're here to get an education, and I think some people have
forgotten that and kind of used student groups to run their own agenda," he
said.

Brian Battaglia as a post-tiger attack Roy.





Frat boy, part one



Frat boy, part two


White guy in black face. The caption reads "Apparently Takkeem was released long enough to come to our party. We thank the local police department."

Penn State YAF continued. In 2004 controversy arose when fliers saying "Sick of always being preached to about diversity and multiculturalism?" and "Tired of liberal bias in the classroom?" were distributed. It arose controversy from the Black Caucus and visiting students from other universities.

Beyond Penn State there are chapters in California.

Story #3 California State University San Marcos

In 1999 two posts on the CSU-SM YAF page show a homophobic agenda. They decided to take October 11th, National Coming Out Day for many LGBT groups, and turn it into two anti-gay events.

The first post was "Save the Gerbil Day" purporting animal abuse by homosexuals. The group also declared October 11th "Straight Pride Day".

Story #4 Offensive e-mails and Fliers from UC Davis YAF

During an election dispute on campus YAF Chair Anirban Roy showed racist and homophobic beliefs.

"Many also are charging that YAF and DCR were motivated by racism and
homophobia, a charge both organizations vehemently deny.But Roy's e-mail may
indicate otherwise.

"(Bledsoe) is a f------- liberal piece of s--- diversity freak! I hate him so
bad!" he wrote. "His running mate likes (homosexual pejorative). He wants to
spend more money to educate the campus on gays and promote homosexuality."

Bledsoe, who is African American, and Beaman, who is openly gay, headed up the Leadership, Empowerment, Activism and Determination, or LEAD, slate in February's ASUCD elections.

UC David's Campus Council on Community and Diversity meeting minutes includes activities by Young Americans for Freedom regarding the election issue. In item three it talks about fliers spread on campus.

In the midst of this controversy, offensive fliers and derogatory e-mails have been circulated on campus causing some students to fear for their safety. E-mail exchanges have been circulated from both sides, although none from the leaders of each ticket. Two fliers were circulated by members of the YAF (Young Americans for Freedom) and another one citing reference to being from the KKK. Jeremy Rye added that there was a letter in the Davis Enterprise saying that student groups such as the 100 Black Scholars and the Hmong Student Union are comparable to the KKK. David Horowitz' visit to the campus, sponsored by the College Republicans, was also hurtful to the campus.

Story #5 Kentucky YAF

One other YAF group was previous mentioned. Kentucky YAF was founded by Morgan Wilkins. She made national news for her "Catch and Illegal Immigrant Day" and "Fun with Guns" ideas.

MSU-YAF supports Morgan Wilkins.