Protests Shut Down UC Davis Groups Event With Milo Yiannopoulos

[philosslayer]

Source: NBC News

An event at a California university featuring controversial so-called "pharma bro" Martin Shkreli and Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos was canceled Friday after a large number of protesters blocked entrance to the event, UC Davis said.

The speakers were invited by the student group Davis College Republicans. UC Davis said in a statement that after protesters blocked the venue "it was determined that it was no longer feasible to continue with the event safely."

"I am deeply disappointed with the events of this evening," Interim Chancellor Ralph J. Hexter said in a statement. "Our community is founded on principles of respect for all views, even those that we personally find repellent."

Shkreli, who came under sharp criticism for raising the price of a drug used to treat a life-threatening parasitic infection by 5,000 percent, told NBC affiliate KCRA that he was there to debate Yiannopoulos and said it was "reasonable" that the event was canceled. "I'm pro-feminism; I don't think these people know that," Shkreli said as he was surrounded by demonstrators. "I was going to tear Milo to shreds ... he doesn't understand feminism."

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/uc-davis-group-cancels-milo-yiannopoulos-event-after-protests-n706851

---

Great work by the Students at UC-Davis. No platform for hate speech!!!

[ck4829]

1. Having Sham Shkreli be your opponent? Could Milo have gotten a better strawman?

Colleges should be places of learning and expanding your mind and the minds of others... By turning it into a shrine of cognitive biases and distortions, Hexter and the Davis College Republicans should be ashamed of themselves.

[Paladin]

3. College republicans have a very high tolerance for shame. Nation-wide. (nt)

[dhol82]

2. I prefer to know what the opposition is saying

Forewarned is forearmed.

[OKNancy]

4. this makes me very happy. I hate that guy

he makes my skin crawl

[philosslayer]

5. Fully agree

Hate speech should be shouted down. And stopped. Whenever possible.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

26. Ditto. Fuck 'em!

[Ghost OF Trotsky]

6. Speech should NEVER be shouted down

The best intentioned censor is worse than the vilest incitements of the most evil agitator.

Ignore. Stage a counter protest, but never forget that what actions we take can be used against us if not condemned by all and punished but the state.

This does much more harm than good to the progressive cause.

[Dr. Strange]

7. What? No way.

Trump supporters would never do anything like this to us!

We've got nothing to worry about.

[Ghost OF Trotsky]

9. Now they will have an easier time doing so

Everyone on the left should condemn these students. I would personally throw ANYONE censoring anything other than the name of a crime victim or genuinely top secret information away for a long, long time. All censorship is bad.

[uppityperson]

14. How was a counter protest "censorship"? Since DU has rules and censorship abilities,

will you throw it away for a long long time?

[50 Shades Of Blue]

27. They couldn't have an easier time than they already do!

[LanternWaste]

42. And I personally would call anyone who never censors themselves a liar or an idiot.

"I would personally throw ANYONE censoring anything..."
And I personally would call anyone who never censors themselves a liar or an anti-social idiot.

"All censorship is bad..."
That is as absurd an unsupported allegation as is "all speech is good" Absolutism, while wonderful for bumper-stickers and super hero movies, is both unworkable and impracticable in the adult world.

[sarisataka]

10. I believe in Tallentyre's writing

misattributed to Voltaire:

‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,’

If we only support free expression of ideas we believe in then we do not support free expression. As you point out, that is a double edged sword.

[Stonepounder]

11. +1000

If we only listen to those we agree with we are no better than Trump's legions of 'low-information' followers. How can we possibly say we are for free speech when the only speech we allow is from those we agree with?

[crim son]

20. Bullshit. n/t

[Rex]

43. So those shouting don't matter? Their speech is not as worthy?

I don't think you understand the idea of protesting.

[UpInArms]

8. there should be no room in our universities for hate speech

ever

those people should not be warmed by the heaters paid for by taxpayer dollars

they should freeze in hell

[Stonepounder]

12. So you disagree with the SCOTUS decision in 1978 to allow the American Nazi Party

to march through a Jewish community in Skokie, IL? Note that it was the ACLU that was representing the ANP. You either have Free Speech or you don't. There isn't any "Free Speech so long as I agree with what the speaker is saying."

"I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
-Voltaire

[UpInArms]

35. not having hate speech on a taxpayer funded university

is not opposing "free" speech

you can do and say what you want, but I don't have to pay for it

go rent the convention center at the Marriott Hotel

say whatever

peace

[AgadorSparticus]

40. I totally agree. Hate speech has no place on a taxpayer funded forum.

Go do it on their own dime.

[Rex]

44. Well...that tiny fact might have been overlooked by a lot of people.

Seems some don't understand what protesting means, that is sad imo.

[Throd 2.0]

16. So label anything you don't like as "hate speech" and shut it down?

[50 Shades Of Blue]

28. ITA.

[Tactical Peek]

13. Davis College Republicans

Davis College Republicans are a bunch of sick puppies.

[tblue37]

15. The College Republicans are idiots to attach their brand to such widely reviled

scumbags, thus proving that all the negative things we say about Republicans are true.

[Throd 2.0]

17. That sucks. I support free speech for everybody.

Even for people whose views I find reprehensible.

[Tikki]

19. Pretty sure we are, also, a democracy. The students at the University spoke. The repugs could host

those BFF's off campus...no problems.

Tikki

[Throd 2.0]

21. I'm sure you'll be just as supportive of that "democracy" when pro-Trump people exercise it.

[Tikki]

22. I bet there are Universities that would have NO protests having pharmacy guy and twitter guy...

and I bet their student body would show up in droves to celebrate them.



Tikki

[Initech]

18. WTF were they thinking inviting the douchebag brigade?

[metalbot]

23. They got exactly what they wanted, and UC Davis students handed it to them on a platter

Inviting them in order to incite protests that would force the cancellation of the event and show "the intolerance of the left" was the ENTIRE point of the event.

[Initech]

24. And they'll go to their laptops and whine about us needing safe spaces.

I'm growing increasingly intolerant of these dipshits.

[Tikki]

25. I am from this area of California and no one is crying over the cancellation...if anything..

it just reinforces what people should already know: California is a Liberal State with a Liberal lean to these students.

There would be more of a surprise if there were no protests.

The repug party students will get over it and move on to their next antic. They have to pretend like they are relevant some way.

Tikki

[Throd 2.0]

29. I am too. This will boost Milo's book sales. Nice job you twits.

[Tikki]

30. Doubt it....

Don't his bees swarm the toobs.

They can get all they want from him in less than 140 characters.

Tikki

[Charles Bukowski]

31. Why would UC Davis even okay this.

Milo Yiannopoulos is a white nationalist bigot of the highest order.

[philosslayer]

32. Its shocking he was even given a permit to speak.

Some voices just aren't worthy of being heard.

[Tikki]

33. Not really...if the repug group followed all procedure...

but then protest should always be viable.

Those worms could have waited out the protest.

Bet they got their speaking fee.

Tikki

[philosslayer]

34. Public colleges should not allow hate speech

Period. The permit should never have been approved. They knew who was speaking.

[Tikki]

36. You are correct, there should be something in their charter that defines what is acceptable....

I hope protests were known to be about the administration decision, too.

I am writing those at the UC system to let them know of my disapproval.

Tikki

[Yupster]

37. I wonder how Trump will define Hate Speech?

Really, free speech has changed a lot since I was young.

[metalbot]

38. Thank you

We either have free speech or we don't. Reading this thread just makes me sad.

Whether or not universities should limit free speech (e.g. allowing a hate group to speak) is a different question, but if a university chooses to do so, we should recognize that we are NOT supporting the idea of free speech when we support that action.

[Yupster]

39. I think universities should not stop hate groups from speaking

I don't think there's such a definition of what a hate group is.

It's too easy to just say anyone I don't like is a hate group. Just depends who has the right to make the declaration.

Free speech means an exchange of views, often different than what you're used to hearing or what you're comfortable with.

After all, speech most everyone agrees with hardly needs protection.

[philosslayer]

46. Community standards can help define what a hate group is

And clearly the University community in this case made a clear decision.

[Rex]

45. Good to see those that pay to keep the lights on protest such vile scum.

No, you don't have a right to free speech on private property. Sorry to those that don't get it.