UC Berkeley Group Cancels ‘Free Speech Week,’ But Milo Shows Up Anyway
Image by Getty
By Ari Feldman September 25, 2017
A University of California, Berkeley student group has cancelled its “Free Speech Week,” a four-day event beginning on Sunday set to include appearances by right-wing media figures Stephen Bannon, Ann Coulter and Milo Yiannopoulos.
However, Yiannopoulos showed up anyway on Sunday. According to Quartz, Berkeley was forced to pay $800,000 in security fees during Yiannopolos’ twenty-minute appearance.
The student group, the Berkeley Patriot, a conservative student news publication, said it decided to cancel the event on Saturday “through its outside legal counsel.”
The following day, Yiannapoulos posted a letter sent by the Berkeley Patriot’s legal counsel to the school’s administration on Instagram, claiming that the student group had “been subjected to extraordinary pressure and resistance, if not outright hostility” while planning its Free Speech Week event.
Yiannapoulos was only able to remain on campus while surrounded by law enforcement in riot gear, as he was swarmed by hundreds of protestors.
In February, Yiannapoulos cancelled a planned speaking engagement at Berkeley due to violent protests of his appearance.
Contact Ari Feldman at [email protected] or on Twitter @aefeldman.
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
