i would remind my colleagues that the lunch counter protest at woolworth and well where -- and elsewhere were in fact sit ins and occupations where young black and white americans bravely took up space in private businesses demanding an end to the racism and segregation that existed at that time. further, as i hope everybody knows, we have also seen in recent decades protests, some of them massive protests, against sexism, against homophobia, and the need to transform our energy system away from fossil fuel in order to save this planet. in other words, protesting injustice and expressing our opinions is part of our american tradition. and when you talk about america being a free country, well, you know what, whether you like it or not, the right to protest is what american freedom is all about. that's the u.s. constitution. and, mr. president, let me also remind you that exactly 60 years ago, ironically, exactly 60 years ago, student demonstrators occupied the exact same building on columbia university's campus as is taking place right now. ironically the same building 60 years ago. acro