Students who invited Ann Coulter to speak on campus are threatening to sue the University of California at Berkeley if it doesn’t find a proper time and venue for the conservative pundit to speak next week.
The students claim that if Coulter is not allowed to give a speech on campus on April 27 she will file a lawsuit in federal court because the university is violating the students’ constitutional right to free speech.
Dhillon, a committeewoman to the Republican National Convention for California and former vice chairwoman of the California Republican Party stated that it is a sad day indeed when the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement, is morphing before people’s eyes into the cemetery of free speech on college campuses.
The organizers of Coulter event were informed by Berkeley officials on Tuesday that the event was being canceled due to security concerns. The event was canceled after a series of violent clashes this year on campus and in downtown Berkeley between far-right and far-left protesters who come armed with pepper spray, Molotov cocktails, brass knuckles and soda cans filled with concrete.
A statement made by Chancellor Nicholas B. Dirks revealed that police have very specific intelligence regarding threats that could pose a grave danger to the speaker, her audience, and protesters if the event goes ahead next Thursday.
The officials recommended of an afternoon event on May 2, when they can offer an appropriate, protectable venue, However, Coulter rejected it, saying she is not available that day. Coulter also tweeted saying that there are no classes at Berkeley on the 2nd of May since students will be studying for final exams.
A statement made by Dhillon revealed that the university offered eight possible venues for the event that students had planned to take place between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. but then it was abruptly canceled.
In response, Patti wrote a letter to Dhillon saying that university police and officials have determined neither the group’s free speech nor the safety of the university’s 36,000 students can be safeguarded on April 27.
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