Progressive hate.

(SF Gate) — UC Berkeley on Saturday was once again the crucible of the free speech debate.

The birthplace of the Free Speech Movement in the 1960s hosted another iconoclast from the era, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, whose speeches and writings have been denounced by critics for decades as bigoted, homophobic and anti-Semitic.

Farrakhan was invited as a speaker for the ninth annual Afrikan Black Coalition Conference organized by the Black Student Union, and his appearance was denounced by other student groups and the subject of an online petition “opposing his hateful words and character” that garnered about 350 signatories.

At least two opinion pieces authored by student leaders denouncing Farrakhan’s appearance were published in the campus newspaper, the Daily Californian, including one by Shawn Lewis, president of the Berkeley College Republicans, who wondered where was Chancellor Robert Birgeneau’s condemnation of Farrakhan after the chancellor and others were quick to denounce as racist the college Republicans “Increase Diversity Bake Sale” last September to protest affirmative action-type policies.

Farrakhan at one point briefly adopted a faux Asian accent and used gibberish after asking the audience if they had ever seen the Chinese picketing, drawing a gasp from some in the crowd.

He garnered a standing ovation at the end.