Last week, UC Berkeley canceled a planned April 27 speech by Ann Coulter, supposedly because they were “unable to find a safe and suitable venue.” Coulter vowed to speak there anyway, and Berkeley subsequently reversed its decision after discovering a “protected venue,” though they rescheduled the speech for May 2. Coulter responded to that by saying that she would still be there to speak on April 27, but it looks like that’s no longer going to happen:
FASCISTS WIN: Coulter Cancels Event After Berkeley Refuses To Stop Anti-Conservative Violence https://t.co/t7hUnuVu7U pic.twitter.com/MPbvzB8Iui
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) April 26, 2017
More from Ben Shapiro:
First, the university cancelled the event – refusing to abide by Coulter’s request that they inform the police to act against violent protesters against her. Then, after a firestorm, Berkeley proposed that Coulter speak a week later, when school was out of session. When Coulter refused and said she would show up anyway at the time and date scheduled, the university said it would not provide a forum; Coulter originally responded by saying she would speak in the plaza, but she finally cancelled the event because of threat of violence. Young Americans Foundation said they could not “jeopardize the safety of its staff or students” by participating in the event. Berkeley College Republicans also backed out.
The university’s chancellor, Nicholas Dirks, put out a statement, explaining, “This University has two non-negotiable commitments, one to Free Speech, the other to the safety of our campus community members, their guests, and the public. In that context, we cannot ignore or deny what is a new reality. Groups and individuals from the extreme ends of the political spectrum have made clear their readiness and intention to utilize violent tactics in support or in protest of certain speakers at UC Berkeley…We cannot wish away or pretend that these threats do not exist.
The university said that it would be impossible for the police department to “simply step in and stop violent confrontations,” adding “This is a University, not a battlefield.” The university said it would not “allow our students, other members of the campus community, and the public to be needlessly endangered by permitting an event to be held in a venue that our police force does not believe to be protectable.”
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This afternoon, Coulter shared her thoughts:
I’m so sorry Berkeley canceled my speech. I’m so sorry YAF acquiesced in the cancelation. And I'm so sorry for free speech crushed by thugs.
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) April 26, 2017
I’m so sorry Berkeley had a different story every 20 minutes, which always was: No speech.
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) April 26, 2017
If we had continued to fight we would have won.
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) April 26, 2017
I’m very sad about Berkeley's cancelation, but my sadness is greater than that. It is a dark day for free speech in America.
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) April 26, 2017
It’s sickening when a radical thuggish institution like Berkeley can so easily snuff out the cherished American right to free speech.
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) April 26, 2017
I am so grateful to people like Bill Maher, Chris Matthews and Margaret Carlson for opposing Berkeley’s censorship.
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) April 26, 2017
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Update:
Young America’s Foundation (YAF) has responded to the cancellation — as well as to Coulter’s claim that they “acquiesced”:
UPDATE on YAF/Berkeley: "YAF did not capitulate to the Left or run from anything, in fact our students are there everyday…
— YAF (@yaf) April 26, 2017
…UC-Berkeley blocked every effort to provide a venue required to sponsor an educational event with Berkeley students…
— YAF (@yaf) April 26, 2017
…At no time was there ever a space or lecture time confirmed for Ann Coulter to speak…
— YAF (@yaf) April 26, 2017
…Conservatives shouldn’t be relegated to speaking outside under the threat of violence when liberals are given venues anytime they wish…
— YAF (@yaf) April 26, 2017
…The Coulter event was never scheduled to be a stroll through Sproul Plaza…
— YAF (@yaf) April 26, 2017
…It was designed to be a normal campus lecture where we had the chance to share conservative ideas with interested students…
— YAF (@yaf) April 26, 2017
…Berkeley had six weeks to lock in a room, but chose not to do so. If we had a hall, or even a room, we would have proceeded…
— YAF (@yaf) April 26, 2017
…We didn’t run or capitulate, we stepped up and sued Berkeley…
— YAF (@yaf) April 26, 2017
…We paid for Coulter to deliver a lecture, not just give a brief speech among violent protestors…
— YAF (@yaf) April 26, 2017
…We are moving ahead with our lawsuit to protect students’ First Amendment rights…
— YAF (@yaf) April 26, 2017
…and ensure future conservative speakers do not face these obstacles when speaking at Berkeley."
— YAF (@yaf) April 26, 2017
Please see our official statement for more information —> https://t.co/xmWjyFpqKd
— YAF (@yaf) April 26, 2017
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Update:
The ACLU has also weighed in:
The heckler’s veto of Coulter's Berkeley speech is a loss for the 1st Amendment. We must protect speech on campus, even when hateful.
— ACLU (@ACLU) April 26, 2017
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Related:
HA! Katie Pavlich spots MAJOR irony in Berkeley’s excuse for canceling Ann Coulter speech
Quadruple-down! Howard Dean thinks Chaplinsky should apply to Ann Coulter, adds FCC twist
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