UC-Berkeley readies police as Ann Coulter plans to speak in public plaza on campus
Source: Washington Post
The University of California at Berkeley is bracing for massive protests in a public plaza on campus after learning that conservative commentator Ann Coulter plans to give a speech there Thursday afternoon.
Sproul Plaza, site of the iconic Free Speech Movement protests in the 1960s, is both symbolic and logistically challenging for the university. On an open campus, anyone can flock to the plaza.
If somebody brings weapons, theres no way to block off the site or to screen them, Nicholas Dirks, UC-Berkeleys chancellor, said Tuesday. For an event inside, the university would have metal detectors and other ways to search for weapons. Officials know that some of the demonstrators, such as those known as Black Bloc, know how to penetrate the crowd and use it as a shield, Dirks said. In an open space you have almost no control over that, he said. The challenges are immense.
The state flagship university has become ground zero for an intense confrontation between the far left and the far right. Some protesters are trying to stop controversial speakers from appearing on campus, while others objecting that such actions violate their right to free speech. In February and twice more since then, masked extremists turned those protests over the boundary between free speech and hate speech into violent confrontations, with fires set, people hurt and hundreds of thousands of dollars of property damage.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2017/04/25/uc-berkeley-readies-police-as-ann-coulter-plans-to-speak-in-public-plaza-on-campus/
I saw a WaPo breaking banner.
Here we go - at least they mention Black Bloc and the hope is that people don't confuse them with peaceful protestors.
Warpy
(111,249 posts)No speaker should be shut down by violent punks.
Remember, most of the speakers who have been silenced in this way have been on the left.
Arrest them, book them, arraign them, and post their mug shots.
If you dare.
pnwmom
(108,977 posts)on May 2, but she's having too much fun being a drama queen to accept the offer.
When Milo Y was scheduled, outside agitators caused $100,000 in damage to the campus. Berkeley is entitled to protect itself and its students.
LittleBlue
(10,362 posts)Those who make the event violent should be imprisoned until they follow society's laws.
pnwmom
(108,977 posts)events that are expected to be protested in venues that can be made secure.
LittleBlue
(10,362 posts)My comment is about the poor morals of the people who show up at these engagements. Bernie didn't have to fear for his life when he spoke at Liberty University, despite the fact that they agreed with few of his political positions.
The city and the university both have an obligation to make people feel safe to speak in the city and on campus. Speakers should not routinely face violence in this city or need the protection of a private location. Those who engage in violence need to be charged with felonies to discourage violence in the future.
7962
(11,841 posts)Look at the list of speakers cancelled; its mostly RW speakers.
Warpy
(111,249 posts)It is most definitely the case.
7962
(11,841 posts)benld74
(9,904 posts)elmac
(4,642 posts)who knows what historical knowledge lurks between them there ears
romanic
(2,841 posts)What's it like to have political riots and mishaps all the time? It's like there's always some Black Bloc/Far-Right scuffle and protest that turns into broken windows and mayhem. I'd hate living in such an environment.
pnwmom
(108,977 posts)botched their handling of this. They were in the midst of trying to figure out how to change their policies on speakers because they haven't had violence like this in decades.
TeamPooka
(24,221 posts)mountain grammy
(26,619 posts)TeamPooka
(24,221 posts)darkness
HopeAgain
(4,407 posts)She and Trump would have long disappeared had the press not followed them around like hungry hounds.
still_one
(92,166 posts)mountain grammy
(26,619 posts)But I won't. Why would anyone want to listen to her?
blueinredohio
(6,797 posts)agree 100%
7962
(11,841 posts)C_U_L8R
(44,999 posts)Who gives a shit. The rightwing is so blatant and stupid. Don't waste your time.
pecosbob
(7,537 posts)Set up metal detectors and arrest anyone carrying a weapon. If you take a weapon to a political protest, you are a terrorist.
mdbl
(4,973 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)She is nothing but an attention seeker.
nikibatts
(2,198 posts)and carry on with business as usual. To do otherwise gives her more press coverage and attention than she deserves. But we never seem to learn that sometimes less is more.
7962
(11,841 posts)or the "follow the crowd" type
ripcord
(5,350 posts)The university should have let the speech go on so the press could have got plenty of pictures of a large hall with all 18 of the student republicans in attendance.
Alice11111
(5,730 posts)Hate her and what she stands for, she does have a right to speak.
L. Coyote
(51,129 posts)They want violence so they can pass laws against protesting. We shouldn't even give them attendance.
hunter
(38,311 posts)Berkeley is like that.
Eventually she'll say "Fuck it," park illegally, and walk into the nearest drinking establishment where people will compliment her on her fabulous Ann Coulter impersonation.
Somehow I don't think she'll be taking BART.
UT_democrat
(143 posts)does IT make a sound?