Alt-right provacateur Yiannopoulos to speak in Valley

Milo Yiannopoulos is expected to headline a “Free Speech AZ Symposium” set for Saturday at a yet-undisclosed location in Glendale.

Yiannopoulos is a 33-year-old political commentator and former Breitbart News editor closely identified with the “alt-right” movement, a volatile brew of anti-Semitism, populism, racism and White Nationalism.

His appearances on college campuses have drawn protesters and sparked violence; some recently scheduled stops have been canceled over security issues.

The free-speech symposium is planned for 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at a venue in the vicinity of the Arizona Cardinals football stadium.

“We’re not disclosing the exact location until 48 hours before the event due to his security,” said Jeff Kagan of the nonpartisan United Liberty Coalition,

which is organizing the event.

A news release describes the point of the symposium: “Prominent speakers are being denied the right to speak at higher learning institutions and in public places. Some of which are the same places that gave birth to a free speech revival in the 60’s. Schools should encourage free expression and sharing of ideas.”

Tickets for the event or a Friday VIP dinner can be bought online at uniteaz.info.

Proceeds benefit The Honor House, a Phoenix-based charity that helps veterans.

Yiannopoulos, who routinely makes derogatory comments about Muslims and Islam, in July 2016 was permanently banned from Twitter in a controversy over abusive, racist and sexist tweets and had a book canceled by Simon & Schuster. He subsequently published his book, “Dangerous,” in July through his own Dangerous Books.

His official Facebook page describes him as “The most fabulous New York Times Best Selling supervillain on the internet.”

Nowicki is The Arizona Republic’s national political reporter. Follow him on Twitter, @dannowicki.