Two events at Riverside City College on April 27 may have been close in proximity to one another, but they were worlds apart with subject and crowd reaction.

As the gates open and you start to walk on the track, your heart starts to beat a little harder. As you sit, pull the harness down and make sure it is locked in place, your heart starts to beat a little faster. And as the seat tilts backwards and you are hanging facing the ground, your heart is racing and there is no turning back.

On April 27, controversy shook the RCC campus: A pedantic christian group calling themselves “Truth Defenders” came to RCC and organized a “free speech” rally to publicly denounce Islam. In prior weeks, the event was advertised as “Islamic Bewareness Week” on fliers passed out by volunteers.