Clinton's speech emphasized the need for the US Government, and other governments around the world, to protect basic freedoms on the internet.
Clinton said that "the Internet has become the public space of the 21st century... the world's town square, classroom, marketplace, coffee house, and nightclub." She continued, "The rights of individuals to express their views freely, petition their leaders, worship according to their beliefs... these rights are universal, whether they are exercised in a public square or on an individual blog."
Secretary Clinton illustrated her point using countless examples of how negatively internet regulation and censorship has affected human rights, economics, and education in countries such as Egypt, China, Iran, Cuba, and Syria.
Clinton also denounced the publishing of confidential US diplomatic cables by Wikileaks as an issue of theft rather than an issue of internet rights. She also denied allegations that the US had any role in coercing private businesses to stop providing internet to Wikileaks.
Clinton emphasized the need for governments around the world to find a balance on the internet between "freedom and security, transparency and privacy, and expression and tolerance" so as to protect all types public speech on the internet while simultaneously safeguarding the privacy of individuals and nations.
The Washington Post was predicting a significant announcement from Secretary Clinton today which did not seem to pan out. Clinton stated that the Office of the Coordinator of Cyber Issues, which she created in December, will work to "enhance our work on cyber security and other issues and facilitate cooperation across the State Department and with other government agencies." Clinton also stated that the government will give out 25 million dollars in competitive grants this year to help education and train internet activists to get their activism onto the streets.
Perhaps the most interesting moment of the event in the Jack Morton Auditorium occurred about five minutes into Clinton's speech. A protestor wearing a shirt which read "Veterans for Peace" had been facing the back of the auditorium, where all the news cameras were, standing silently since Clinton's introduction. Two UPD officers approached the man, asking him to leave twice. The man remained silent and did not respond to the UPD officer's request that he leave or be seated. The UPD officers at this point grabbed him by the arm, pulled him to the ground, and dragged him out of the auditorium. The man remained silent the whole time until just before being pulled through the auditorium doors when he screamed, "This is America?"
The protestor was identified by a freelance cameraman as famous peace activist, and former CIA agent, Ray McGovern though no major media outlets, nor WRGW News, have confirmed this.
GW released the following statement on the incident:
"A man, who is not affiliated with the George Washington University, was arrested Tuesday afternoon by the George Washington University Police Department (GWPD) and has been charged with disorderly conduct after disrupting a speech by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on campus. Shortly after the Secretary began speaking, the man stood up from his seat wearing a shirt with a political message blocking the view of guests and media. When asked by a GWPD officer to leave, the man refused. He was escorted by GWPD out of the building and is in the custody of the Metropolitan Police Department."
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