Conservative provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos was to speak at an event at UC Berkeley on Wednesday night, but violent riots caused the speaking engagement to be canceled. Violent protesters clashed with police, destroyed barriers, and attempted to storm the building where the 500-seat, sold-out event was scheduled.
UC Berkeley, which is coincidentally the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement, canceled the speech by the polarizing Breitbart News editor that was sponsored by the campus Republican club.
At #miloatcal has been cancelled. Milo has left campus. @UCBerkeley @CalSurvivor
— UC Police, Berkeley (@UCPD_Cal) February 2, 2017
.@UCBerkeley Updates regarding lockdown/shelter in place to follow #miloatcal
— UC Police, Berkeley (@UCPD_Cal) February 2, 2017
UCPD has issued a stay away in or near Bancroft and Telegraph due to major protest attacks. https://t.co/XxBWL3OaeZ #miloatcal
— UC Police, Berkeley (@UCPD_Cal) February 2, 2017
.@UCBerkeley For your safety, stay area from Sproul Plaza and @ASUC_Union Union #miloatcal @CalSurvivor
— UC Police, Berkeley (@UCPD_Cal) February 2, 2017
.@UCBerkeley @UCPD_Cal continues to issue a dispersal order for the #miloatcal protests. Please leave the area.
— UC Police, Berkeley (@UCPD_Cal) February 2, 2017
Yiannopoulos event canceled https://t.co/zryxeB6vWz #miloatcal pic.twitter.com/BAm35HiSEx
— UC Berkeley (@UCBerkeley) February 2, 2017
Rioters shot off fireworks and flares.
A group of antifa are shooting fireworks at the building where Milo is set to speak at Berkeley pic.twitter.com/7Mtcer9ejO
— Julia Carrie Wong (@juliacarriew) February 2, 2017
They set a large bonfire outside the building.
https://twitter.com/michael_bodley/status/826993638387314689
WATCH LIVE: Fire set on UC Berkeley campus in protest against Milo Yiannopoulos appearance https://t.co/LZ5uNs9OVy pic.twitter.com/sv7PZEamLv
— FOX 11 Los Angeles (@FOXLA) February 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/GillianNBC/status/826982750016065538
https://twitter.com/michael_bodley/status/826991065630511104
Some of the alt-left rioters bash windows and tear down barriers.
https://twitter.com/AlexAldridge20/status/826988605373571072
Event that was to feature a speech by alt-right figure Milo Yiannopoulos canceled amid protest on UC Berkeley campus https://t.co/MtKh0vdfdo pic.twitter.com/habG0p2PiM
— ABC News (@ABC) February 2, 2017
Milo protesters start fire at UC Berkeley. Campus on lockdown. https://t.co/Gutgsg8BrH pic.twitter.com/9yozBYYjUS
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) February 2, 2017
Window of the student union at canceled #milo event, #Ucberkeley pic.twitter.com/X1LSYWzmDz
— Nanette Asimov (@NanetteAsimov) February 2, 2017
Celebration after Milo at Berkeley was canceled pic.twitter.com/7tW2ka8qcZ
— Julia Carrie Wong (@juliacarriew) February 2, 2017
Antifa thugs used flag poles to attack others.
https://twitter.com/MisterMetokur/status/826991184635654145
One person was hit and on the ground.
Chants of "Mexico!" "Fuck you Nazi scum!" and "I'll kill you!" as man is pummeled on the ground by rioters. pic.twitter.com/G2CqvfhOpP
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) February 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/michael_bodley/status/826990602772377600
This man had blood covering his face.
https://twitter.com/MisterMetokur/status/826981145762025472
There were chants of “Fuck those fascists!”
https://twitter.com/michael_bodley/status/826989648006176770
https://twitter.com/michael_bodley/status/827005805513682944
UC Berkeley was the last stop of the 32-year-old firebrand’s tour that took aim at the epidemic of political correctness on college campuses
The political violence was successful in suppressing Milo’s First Amendment right to freedom of speech for his speech at UC Berkeley to 500 attendees, but as of 10 p.m. Yiannopoulos was national headlines and gave a live interview to Tucker Carlson on Fox News, who garners nearly 4 million viewers nightly.
[ABCNews]