Andy Ngo, the Portland based journalist widely considered an authority on the far left faction known as Antifa, was invited to speak on the topic by a free speech group at the University of British Columbia. The event has since been cancelled.
It seems the school is worried about violence from Antifa. You couldn’t make this up.
Jennifer Saltman reports at the Vancouver Sun:
UBC event cancelled, debate continues about free expression on campusThe University of B.C. could face a lawsuit from a free speech club after cancelling a potentially controversial speaking event at the end of January, citing “safety and security.”…“The speaker has every freedom of expression right to express his views. This group of students has every freedom of expression right to find a place to hold an event to let him express his views. It’s just the university doesn’t have an obligation to be that place,” said James Turk, director of Ryerson University’s Centre for Free Expression.Andy Ngo, editor at large for the right-wing news site Post Millennial, was scheduled to deliver a talk called “Understanding Antifa (Anti-fascist) Violence,” at UBC’s Robson Square campus on Jan. 29…Ron Holton, the university’s chief risk officer, said in an emailed statement that campus safety and security is the primary concern, and the school does risk assessments to evaluate the impact that event bookings could have on the campus community.“The assessment in this case determined the safety and security of UBC students, faculty, staff and infrastructure was at risk if the event was allowed to proceed,” he said, noting the event was cancelled “in order to safeguard the safety and security of our community.”…Some have accused the club of leaning far right in its views, but Isidorou said while roughly two-thirds of their speakers and events have been conservative or right-leaning — the club has hosted Jordan Peterson five times — they have booked people from across the political spectrum, including a number of UBC professors.“It’s just whenever we host a right winger, it turns into this huge volcano,” he said.
Where to begin? First of all, Andy Ngo is not a right winger. Secondly, the reason things turn into a volcano, is because left wingers are allowed to go berserk whenever someone with a differing view is set to speak.
It is the university’s responsibility to “teach” these adult children that they must allow the free flow of ideas and debate, not throw a tantrum. If outside groups pose a threat, it is the responsibility of the university to protect its students and campus.
Schools must not be allowed to shrug off their responsibilities because they are too lazy to protect and promote free expression.
Ngo talked about this on Twitter:
People who threaten violence over speech should not be the ones to decide who is allowed to speak.
Featured image via YouTube.
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