Presidential candidate speaks on campus

JACKSON RICHMAN//

The GW Students for Rand organization hosted a rally in the Marvin Center Grand Ballroom today featuring Kentucky Senator and presidential candidate Rand Paul.

The Republican presidential candidate started his speech by rhetorically asking the audience of supporters, “Anyone here just want to be left alone?” Paul then proceeded to criticize the government’s surveillance operations at home and abroad. Regarding last week’s attacks in Paris, he called the need for more surveillance, “bullshit.” Additionally, he remarked that the Fourth Amendment of the Bill of Rights has been neglected.

“It’s none of the government’s damn business” to collect information through the National Security Agency, said Paul. He cited a statistic from the Consumer Financial Protection Board that said the agency collects “90 to 95 percent of credit card bills” on behalf of the NSA.

In addition to chiding the American surveillance program, Paul said that the U.S. has not followed the Fifth and Sixth Amendments of the Bill of Rights, respectively protection against self-incrimination and the right to a fair trial.

Following the event, students were able to watch as Paul was interviewed by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. Students were also able to take pictures with the senator.