Students protest Milo Yiannopoulos’ appearance at UC Berkeley Wednesday evening. CREDIT: AP Photo/Ben Margot.
Milo Yiannopoulos calls President Trump “Daddy,” and it seems the relationship might be mutual.
Wednesday evening, UC Berkeley ultimately canceled a speech by Yiannopolous, Breitbart editor and professional provocateur, just two hours before it was to take place. The speech, organized by Berkeley College Republicans, was massively protested, and those demonstrations turned increasingly violent after masked protesters not affiliated with the university started marching on Oakland.
Early Thursday morning, Fox News commentator Todd Starnes railed against the protests:
The birth place of free speech became its graveyard. So here’s what needs to happen: President Trump should immediately issue an executive order blocking Berkeley students from receiving any federal funding. Same goes for any other public university that wants to silence conservative voices. Free speech for all or no federal money! Not a single taxpayer penny, period!
That segment aired around 5:17 am. An hour later, 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?
Then, at the top of the 7 o’clock hour, Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway appeared on Fox and Friends to reinforce the tweet. She mocked the students who protested, saying, “I don’t even know if they know what they’re protesting. I would love to do this big survey nationwide and ask everybody outside these airports, on the college campuses: what’s got you so in a lather?”
“Life doesn’t work that way folks,” she said. “You’re going to work with people who disagree with you. You’re going to encounter folks who aren’t just accosting you in this protective environment.”
The students know exactly what they are protesting, Madame Alternative Facts: sexism, racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, transphobia, homophobia, and oh yes, fascism. Pretty much everyone in our now fascist government is someone I disagree with, and they are busy accosting people on every level. We know what that’s like, and so do college students. They aren’t babies, and they aren’t stupid.
Yiannopoulos himself insisted that “the Left is absolutely terrified of free speech and will do literally anything to shut it down.”
No, the left and all anti-fascist, anti-nazi peoples are simply exercising their rights, and you don’t like that at all. If anyone wants to shut down free speech, it’s the fascist-nazi people. If you’re shouting in the public square, people have the right to respond.
What Yiannopolous offers is not just speech, but bullying of the most vulnerable. He openly encourages those who are white and male to attack basically anyone and everyone else. Trump, taking his cues from Fox News, is validating his behavior.
Indeed. Yiannopolous has already proved, time and time again, that he’s perfectly willing to endanger the lives of others, while taking exception to any and all criticism. The fact that he has the support of the Tiny Dictator is no comfort.
Indeed. Yiannopolous has already proved, time and time again, that he’s perfectly willing to endanger the lives of others, while taking exception to any and all criticism.
Free speech, endangering others’ lives, and complaining about it — are all a one-way street with Milo.
Chancellor: How does Milo manage to be openly gay and a Nazi at the same time?
He’s got a case of “Yianopolous Exceptionalism” — that doesn’t apply to him.
But, yeah, his fascist heroes would have had him shot, anyway.
rqsays
I don’t even know if they know what they’re protesting. I would love to do this big survey nationwide and ask everybody outside these airports, on the college campuses: what’s got you so in a lather?
So the country is going to the nazis and she’s wondering what the hell they’re in a lather about? Geezus.
Milo the fascist is advocating for purges on campus. That’s not free speech, that’s criminal.
Also, where was all that outrage when a Milo supporter shot a peaceful protester? Where were the threats to withhold federal funding until justice is done there?
emergencesays
One problem, I think, is that the peaceful, non-violent protestors get lumped in with the black bloc rioters even though the two groups don’t even like each other. Were the people who smashed windows and set fires even Berkeley students?
Second, Milo and his cronies aren’t just coming onto campus to talk about conservative policies, they’re there to attack and dehumanize the students that Milo doesn’t like. Apparently, the college is supposed to just sit by while Milo spews hate targeted at transgender and undocumented students, or whichever other group of people he’s decided to target for discrimination.
Third, notice the skewed ideas about free speech that conservatives have. Being banned from social media and denied speaking engagements at universities are apparently grave violations of racist assholes’ rights, but conservatives also love passing legislation to arrest protestors and using libel laws to silence the press.
Crimson Clupeidaesays
Robert Reich, who lives in the area and works at Berkeley says that the instigators were not students.
Protesting is exercising the right to free speech. This is a no-brainer.
Why don’t the Republicans get that?
oh wait
never mind
Why do people think that nazis ought to get platforms to espouse hate without being challenged?
How does Milo manage to be openly gay and a Nazi at the same time?
Indeed. Yiannopolous has already proved, time and time again, that he’s perfectly willing to endanger the lives of others, while taking exception to any and all criticism.
Free speech, endangering others’ lives, and complaining about it — are all a one-way street with Milo.
Chancellor:
How does Milo manage to be openly gay and a Nazi at the same time?
He’s got a case of “Yianopolous Exceptionalism” — that doesn’t apply to him.
But, yeah, his fascist heroes would have had him shot, anyway.
So the country is going to the nazis and she’s wondering what the hell they’re in a lather about? Geezus.
rq:
Apparently, Madame Alternative Facts can’t manage to read signs. Nothing like deliberately missing the obvious.
Queen of the nazis, that’s where she wants to be.
I’m going to have a second beer and then I will stop commenting for the night, because otherwise my typing fingers are going to get out of hand.
Milo the fascist is advocating for purges on campus. That’s not free speech, that’s criminal.
Also, where was all that outrage when a Milo supporter shot a peaceful protester? Where were the threats to withhold federal funding until justice is done there?
One problem, I think, is that the peaceful, non-violent protestors get lumped in with the black bloc rioters even though the two groups don’t even like each other. Were the people who smashed windows and set fires even Berkeley students?
Second, Milo and his cronies aren’t just coming onto campus to talk about conservative policies, they’re there to attack and dehumanize the students that Milo doesn’t like. Apparently, the college is supposed to just sit by while Milo spews hate targeted at transgender and undocumented students, or whichever other group of people he’s decided to target for discrimination.
Third, notice the skewed ideas about free speech that conservatives have. Being banned from social media and denied speaking engagements at universities are apparently grave violations of racist assholes’ rights, but conservatives also love passing legislation to arrest protestors and using libel laws to silence the press.
Robert Reich, who lives in the area and works at Berkeley says that the instigators were not students.
Good article here: http://robertreich.org/post/156777888615