The College Republicans at UC Davis invited Milo Yiannopoulos and Martin Shkreli to give a talk on campus which was to focus largely on free speech but the event had to be cancelled because leftists protested and authorities feared violence.
This is a perfect example of the ‘New Civics’ we profiled in a recent post.
ABC News in San Francisco reports:
Yiannopoulos, Shkreli Event Cancelled After Protests Erupt at UC DavisThe UC Davis College Republicans canceled an event featuring conservative commentator Milo Yiannopulos and pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli Friday after protests erupted on campus.Protesters and people interested in the event were so heated they didn’t even believe that the event was canceled when it was announced. People for and against the event rallied for hours.Protesters blocked doors. Police tossed them out. Nobody got inside, not even the Davis College Republicans’ headliner, conservative commentator Milo Yiannopulos.”We came here to have an event that would promote free speech,” said Executive Director of the College Republicans at Davis Andrew Mendoza. “And we didn’t get to have any speech.”The 400 free tickets went quick, and not just to students. Brandon Toney-James drove in from Sacramento. “Milo is a rising young conservative star, and I wanted to see him pretty much close and in person,” he said.Others had no desire to see the commentator.”Mostly with Milo, just how everything he has to say has to bring people down,” said Haley Scholety, a student at UC Davis. “It’s not what we should stand for as a community, especially at Davis.”Nearly 60 UC police officers worked to control the crowd, making one arrest for obstructing an officer and battery of a peace officer. Event organizers made the call to cancel.
Here’s a video report from CBS News Sacramento:
UC Davis released this official statement:
After consulting with UC Davis Police Department and UC Davis Student Affairs officials, the Davis College Republicans canceled tonight’s event featuring Breitbart columnist Milo Yiannopoulos. The decision was made at about 7:00 pm, 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the event, after a large number of protesters blocked access to the venue, and 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,” said Interim Chancellor Ralph J. Hexter. “Our community is founded on principles of respect for all views, even those that we personally find repellent. As I have stated repeatedly, a university is at its best when it listens to and critically engages opposing views, especially ones that many of us find upsetting or even offensive.”
Milo Yiannopoulos released this statement on Facebook:
Twitchy has collected some photos and videos from the scene:
Robby Soave of Reason notes the irony:
It remains the case that the students who shut down Yiannopoulos at campus after campus are playing directly into his hands. By proving him right about the college left’s intolerance, students ensure that Yiannopoulos will be able to continue promoting his agenda and claiming the mantle of free speech martyr. He will arrange more speaking tours, make more media appearances, and sell more books. The outrage that follows him wherever he goes is beneficial to him.
Featured image via YouTube.
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