Posted on 04/26/2017 11:16:52 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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.
Ms. Coulter, in a message to The New York Times, said, “It’s a sad day for free speech.”
Despite insisting that she would go to Berkeley regardless — even after the university said it could not accommodate her on the date and time it had initially scheduled her because of threats of violence — Ms. Coulter said she did not see how she could go forward. The school said she could speak only at a later date and an earlier time of day, when there were likely to be fewer students on campus and less of a likelihood for violent outbreaks.
Late on Tuesday, the conservative group that was helping Ms. Coulter in her legal efforts to force Berkeley to host her, Young America’s Foundation, said it could no longer participate. “Young America’s Foundation will not jeopardize the safety of its staff or students,” the group said.
Without any support, Ms. Coulter said, she was left with little choice. “Everyone who should believe in free speech fought against it or ran away,” she said.
Ms. Coulter was confronted with the dangerous prospect of setting foot unguarded on a campus that erupted in violence in February after another conservative speaker, Milo Yiannopoulos, planned to appear. The school canceled his event.
The Berkeley College Republicans, which invited Ms. Coulter and was supposed to sponsor her visit, also backed out and joined Young America’s Foundation in saying the atmosphere had grown too hostile.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
In the twenties and early thirties, the brownshirts used to go to opposing party rallies and beat people up and prevent them from getting their message out. The U.S. is becoming more and more like this, as the radical left (like all totalitarian types) is increasingly refusing to allow dissent or different opinions to be expressed. The ironic thing, of course, is that these people call themselves anti-fascists, while modeling their behavior heavily on what the fascists did in their early stages of taking power.
Well thank you but that wasn’t what I was expecting or looking for. I sincerely appreciate the support.
I have been in situations with many brave Free Republic members that were dangerous.
Many years ago in SF where violent (some wearing masks) “Palestinians” were doing a rally, about 5,000 of them, and there were about 5 of us.
The police were on the steps of City Hall and opened the doors and ushered us inside instead of protecting us when the terrorist mob started approaching our position.
Went to Murrieta CA (with the founder of FR and his family) and stood toe to toe with brown berets that were pushing people to be violent.
I suspect that the YAF and College Republicans were threatened as groups or as individuals.
The sudden 180°, including calling off their lawyer, was just too sudden.
Coulter did an morning radio interview today. She said she was stabbed in the back and cannot go on with the speech alone.
When the time came to put your money where your mouth is... The Sponsors failed. The ‘Progressives’ have deep pockets (Soros)combined with nothing to lose and will use any manner and method to bankrupt the opposition to silence them.
More likely the “Progressives” costs to her freedom of speech (security, insurance, etc) were too burdensome.
Speech isn’t free, it now costs a fortune (and maybe all you own if someone gets hurt and you are sued)
No, you said she was spineless.
Yet all this week she BATTLED to go, only to have the student groups pull out.
If you aren’t battling to go with her, then calling HER Spineless is just a douchebag thing to say!
Ann Coulter is not spineless. What a stupid thing to say. Obviously you do not know her or the present situation.
Actually the last time we did fight back and ran them off. There were then online discussions of them arming themselves with knives and guns.
“LOST?”
Huh. She didn’t “lose” it; she gave it up.
As a long-time speaker for YAF this saddens me. There is no gain without risk.
YAF should ask for volunteers and employ Blackwater.
Wow, that’s not to say her giving up on free speech isn’t forgivable in this instance; she simply doesn’t want to be the first martyr in the war to regain it.
Ooops. Another FR troll pops up.
Perhaps. Clearly Ann is no MLK.
At some point our side will have to be willing to not get paid $10k for a soeech, or get beat up, or go to jail.
Ann is a paid gun, not a leader.
Very disturbing situation indeed.
The people who supported Milo were willing to fight on the streets of Berkley and beat back Leftist protestors a few weeks ago.
I don’t believe in violence, but I don’t believe in silence either.
There’s more to be done in this country besides elections and I support non violent resistance.
This situation has the great potential to lead people who support President Trump and maybe even others to consider the need to resist with violent means in defense of their Constitutional rights.
The POTUS by virtue of his position has the freedom to speak but what of the rest of us.
She has been fighting the battle, all alone, for years. Shame on you for expecting a 50+ year old woman conservative warrior to march on to campus without any backup.
“Coulter did an morning radio interview today.”
Is this the one? Mark Simone? Coulter seems to indicate the lawsuit will be withdrawn as well?
In the interview, Coulter said she is still going to Berkeley...without a plan...may decide to speak.
“I have flights. I am going to Berkeley.”
“I’ll do something. Maybe I’ll go out onto Sproul Plaza, but I don’t feel like wandering around like a homeless man”
Mark Simone Show -— 11 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paO1uveO5Mc
Yes, that’s the one. Mark Simone.
Ann us still on in Modesto the following night (Friday). Modesto PD and various other LE and security forces are ready for anything and raring to show this ain’t no Berkeley.
Event is sold out but counter-protesters are welcome.
I would bet Based Stickman and the guys who backed up Lauren Southern would do it for Ann.
The other nutless wonders...guess not.
Really, Trump should just send in a Marine protection unit to be the spear that defends Ann.
It's a defining moment for the United States. Even liberals in the Bay Area are becoming shocked by the violent trash they have made excuses for all these years.
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