Earlier Wednesday, the university sent a notice to all students that warned of crowds near the student union, where the 500-seat, sold-out event was scheduled.
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Wednesday night peaceful protests erupted into violent clashes that spilled out from UC Berkeley’s campus onto city streets.
In a characteristically knee-jerk reaction to Wednesday’s events, President Trump tweeted: “If U.C. Berkeley does not allow free speech and practices violence on innocent people with a different point of view – NO FEDERAL FUNDS?”
According to a Reuters review, the research money received by the university includes $121 million from the National Science Foundation for scientific research and $125 million from the Health and Human Services department for health and medical research.
Mr Yiannopoulos is a “senior editor” of Breitbart News, whose former executive chair Steve Bannon has been appointed as Mr Trump’s chief strategist. While many Berkeley students were present and undoubtedly planned to lawfully exercise their right to protest, Berkeley blames the violence on more than 100 black-clad, non-campus individuals who “utilized paramilitary tactics to engage in violent, destructive behavior created to shut the event down”.
Yiannopoulos told Fox News’ Tucker Carlson on Thursday that police did not seem to do much and that he was whisked away by auto after putting on a bulletproof vest.
Yiannopoulos has become a darling of Trump’s America by promoting thinly veiled xenophobia and intolerance through his speeches, columns and various media appearances. “When will all the fools who are still supporting Trump realize what is at stake?”
Several California lawmakers – including at least one Republican – have criticised Trump for threatening Berkeley.
The speech was set to be the “alt-right” provocateur’s kickoff event for a campaign against “sanctuary campuses”, which critics said wouldintimidate undocumented students at the school. He said there weren’t enough officers on hand at the start of the protests to make arrests and protect the public.
The University of California-Berkeley was a hotbed of student activism in the 1960s, when young people pushed for greater political freedom on campus as part of the “Free Speech Movement”. He pointed out that only one liberal he knew of came to Milo’s defense. “Even before the Free Speech Movement, Malcolm X was invited to speak on campus – and in 1963, he was a controversial figure – and so, the question of controversial speakers on campus in some ways predates the Free Speech Movement”.
Late last month, outside a scheduled speech by Yiannopoulos at the University of Washington in Seattle, an anti-racist protester was shot by a Yiannopoulos fan who had tried to provoke the protesters throughout the evening, according to Hatewatch. A similar invitation to speak at UCLA was rescinded.
“We’re going to continue to stand up for free speech”, club President Jose Diaz said.
The Berkeley College Republicans feel even though the violence ultimately canceled their event, their message has been taken to another level.
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He adds he would not open the doors to Yiannopoulos again because of the violent response.
