Ann Coulter cancels Berkeley speech after losing conservative groups support

[pnwmom]

Last edited Wed Apr 26, 2017, 04:04 PM - Edit history (1)

She rejected the offer to give a speech next week, the week before exams, when no classes are being held and a "protectable" meeting room is available. Berkeley has an open campus with dozens of entrances and exists, and an outdoor speech would be much harder to secure.

The reporter describes the recent violent protests as having a "fight club atmosphere" that hasn't been seen in many years, if ever. I remember the antiwar protests at Berkeley in the 70's, and I think this is new.

On edit: lunatica has posted an important letter from Berkeley's Chancellor here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10028982363#post2

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/us/ann-coulter-berkeley-speech.html?_r=0

Ann Coulter said Wednesday that she is canceling her planned speech at the University of California, Berkeley, because she had lost the backing of conservative groups that had initially sponsored her appearance.

SNIP

Administrators at Berkeley, who say Ms. Coulter is welcome on campus when the university has an indoor, “protectable” venue available, offered a day next week when students are no longer in class, a proposal that Ms. Coulter rejected.

The Berkeley chancellor, Nicholas B. Dirks, sent a note to the campus on Wednesday that appeared to criticize what he described as a disregard for student safety.

“Sadly and unfortunately, concern for student safety seems to be in short supply in certain quarters,” he said. “This is a university, not a battlefield.” He added, “We must make every effort to hold events at a time and location that maximizes the chances that First Amendment rights can be successfully exercised and that community members can be protected.”

SNIP

Outside groups representing the far left and far right have clashed in the city several times over the past few months in a fight club atmosphere that university administrators say they have not seen in many years, if ever. During the most recent clash, on April 15, the police arrested 20 people. But Chief Greenwood warned of the difficulties and dangers of intervening in future clashes.

[C_U_L8R]

1. Suddenly Coulter hates the free market

Uh-huh.

[mr_liberal]

5. The free market is to allow all ideas to be heard and the best idea win, not to censor some. nm

[LanternWaste]

10. Just more nothingburgers. Extra mayo, I'm certain.

Sounds as though she simply not going... no real censorship.

Like alleging Trump was helping Romney to win, or wishing Ginsburg would retire: Just more nothingburgers. Extra mayo, I'm certain.

[Fresh_Start]

11. The University doesn't have free space during the days with classes

almost all of the computer science classes are in the evenings because there isn't enough classroom space. Next week would have been a great option (its dead week, the week between classas and finals) so all the students would have been able to attend without worrying about missing classes...
The university is smart to want to hold it indoors where they can control access to the event.

The problems earlier this year were due to outside groups who could be prevented from accessing the indoor event.

She would have her free speech opportunity but she doesn't want it now.

[NurseJackie]

2. No, it's only a "sad day" for people who feel ENTITLED to a particular PLATFORM.

[guillaumeb]

3. Coulter, and right wing clowns like her, are constantly in the media.

They have far more opportunity for their hate speech and constant media coverage than 99.9% of Americans. Claims of First Amendment limits are hard to take when the speaker is a constant presence in the corporate media.

[Mike Nelson]

4. She got what she wanted...

...for not speaking: more attention, press and TV appearances.

[sharp_stick]

6. She never wanted to speak there and the idiots

that invited her never really wanted her to speak there. The only reason these college republicans do this is to gin up a bit of attention for themselves so they can practice their outraged victim persona. Coulter likewise got a little more TV time and maybe sold a few more copies of the bird cage liner she calls books.

No conservative can really call themselves a conservative unless they can be both outraged and horribly hurt by others at the exact same time. It's a quiet time in RW victimland and the war on xmas is months away.

[lunatica]

7. thanks pmwmom!

rec'd and kick'd

[pnwmom]

9. You're welcome. I wish more people would read that letter.

[gratuitous]

8. Ann Coulter a-scared of the snowflakes

Boo hoo hoo.

[stuffmatters]

12. I always resent those violent,masked agitators being called "far left."

Their goal is only to gain disruption, attention and always to divert the reports away from and undermine any legitimate social protest.
Their ideology has nothing to do with "the left" and is more aligned to the philosophy and deep history of right wing hate,fear and violence mongering. This is not"far left" but "anti left."

The MSM keeps tying the "left" to these anti left assholes, and it is categorically slanderous to ALL on the left side of spectrum, all who believe in representative democracy ... a democracy which even the elected Republicans now seem hellbent on destroying by any means.

[pnwmom]

13. One article I read described these recent protests as a "fight club" and said that it had been

a long time, "if ever," since Berkeley had seen anything like it. I don't think Berkeley ever has, despite its reputation. The protests in the 60's and 70's were motivated by idealism, not hate. There was a different atmosphere than today.

[pnwmom]

14. This is the kind of thing Clint Watts was talking about; that part of Russia's active measures

involves encouraging these violent protests, with attackers from both the left and the right, which they can do through online trolls safely based in Russia.

There's no way to know about the particular recent attacks at Berkeley, but it's always a possibility that needs to be considered.

[Cha]

15. Haha.. "the intellectually weak" WON!

[L. Coyote]

16. All that violence planning gone to waste, so sorry wingnuts, my sympathy ... NOT!