Coulter says she won’t attend Berkeley event
BERKELEY, Calif. — When computer science major Lindsay Nichols considers the possibility of a “Free Speech Week” featuring right-wing firebrands at the University of California, Berkeley, the first word that comes to her mind is “annoyance.”
Biology student Kyeong Kim agrees. She’s all for free speech, but the prospect of more political clashes and the disruptions they bring draws a big shrug.
“It’s the new normal here: the police, the helicopters,” said Kim, 24, an international student from South Korea. “I stay away. I don’t want to get caught in a violent protest.”
Berkeley’s reputation as a liberal stronghold and the birthplace of the 1960s Free Speech Movement has made the city and campus flashpoints for the country’s political divisions since the election of President Donald Trump.
The four-day event scheduled to start Sunday was organized by right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, whose previous attempt to speak on campus in February was shut down by masked anarchists who rioted on campus.
Yiannopoulos said he’s coming back with a lineup of high-profile conservatives, but the star power faded Friday when conservative commentator Ann Coulter announced she’s not coming.
Coulter told The Associated Press that Yiannopoulos’ team was in touch with hers, about speaking but she heard “the administration was dead set on blocking this event” so she decided not to bother.
“I also don’t think Berkeley deserves to hear a brilliant and entertaining Ann Coulter speech,” Coulter told the AP in an email.
Steve Bannon, ex-chief strategist for Trump, is also on Yiannopoulos’ list but has not said publicly if he plans to attend.
A number of other listed speakers have posted comments on social media saying they don’t plan to show up either. Among them is James Damore, a former Google employee who was fired for writing a memo viewed as sexist. He tweeted that he never knew he was on the list.
Amid the uncertainty, Yiannopoulos posted a message Friday on Facebook.
“Contrary to press reports, Free Speech Week is not cancelled,” he wrote, urging his followers to stay tuned for details at a Saturday news conference.
The university said it is preparing strong security for the 4-day event, expected to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Students have been warned to expect several days of disruptions caused by heavy police lines and protest barriers, the possible closure of buildings and roads, and events scheduled to take place outdoors on the central hub of campus known as Sproul Plaza.
“It’s more of an annoyance than anything,” said Nichols, a 20-year-old junior, adding that some teachers have told students they can skip class if they’re concerned about safety.
“I’m just trying to get an education, and there’s these SWAT teams everywhere,” Nichols said.
Four political demonstrations, starting with the Yiannopoulos event last February, have turned violent and prompted authorities to come up with new strategies as they struggle to balance free speech rights with preventing violence.
University of California President Janet Napolitano, who oversees the 10 campuses in the UC system, said her office is taking the unprecedented step of splitting security costs with UC Berkeley despite the current financial struggles of the system.