Berkeley, known as the home of the free speech movement, was under heavy police watch on Thursday as hundreds of people waving American flags and chanting United States of America gathered in a park to protest a cancelled appearance by conservative commentator Ann Coulter.
Others, from the political right, also showed up, holding pro-Trump signs, waving American flags, in some cases wearing helmets and other improvised riot gear. Civic Center Park, at times outnumbering demonstrators.
"The police have basically said there is going to be violence, which is an odd thing for police to say since they are supposed to stop violence", former lead investigative reporter at Breitbart and current Sputnik Radio host Lee Stranahan told Sputnik's Fault Lines. The student groups rejected an alternate date, May 2, because it fell during finals week, and then they filed a lawsuit claiming the school was infringing upon their First Amendment rights.
Many students say they aren't anxious about classmates becoming violent if right-wing pundits deliver on promises to speak in Sproul Plaza. Speaking Wednesday night, Mayor Jesse Arreguín told Mother Jones that conservative pundit Coulter should bear some responsibility if her appearance-or lack thereof-causes violence.
Ashton Whitty, left, 21, and Hailey Carlson, right, 24, University of California, Berkeley students, make their feelings known during a press conference held by the Berkeley College Republicans in Sproul Plaza on the Cal campus in Berkeley, Calif., on Wednesday, April 26, 2017. Vice founder and conservative provocateur Gavin McInnes vowed in a YouTube video to give the speech at a yet to be announced location in Berkeley.
Officers took selfies with students in an attempt to lighten the mood. In February, demonstrations prior to alt-right leader Milo Yiannopoulos's planned speech led the university to call off the event, sparking violence.
Frat member told 911: 'We have a friend who's unconscious'
Harry Kamerow provided an estimate of the young man's blood alcohol content at different portions of the surveillance video. Penn State President Eric Barron called the series of events that led to the death "sickening and hard to understand".
Police are preparing for violent outbreaks between militant factions on both sides.
University officials said the Berkeley College Republicans erred by inviting Coulter without notifying campus officials in advance, as is required of all student groups, and by failing to submit to a "security assessment" to determine a suitable time and place for the event.
The university, meanwhile, has said it's prepared for what may come. The crowd included members of the alt-right, Trump supporters, and people on the political left who showed up to protest against the commentator and her supporters.
"It's a shame that someone can't speak in the home of the free speech movement", said Wilson Grafstrom, an 18-year-old high school student from Menlo Park, California.
"The culture on campus, it's not like there are violent people going around trying to suppress people's views", the business and political science major said. They said they needed a venue that could be "secured", in order to protect students, guests and Coulter herself.
"On college campuses, that means that the best way to combat hateful speech is through counter-speech, vigorous and creative protest, and debate, not threats of violence or censorship". He is particularly annoyed, he said, by the black-clad anti-fascists, who he couldn't differentiate from the hate groups fighting during the Yiannopoulos speech and Trump rally. Then yesterday she changed her mind, said she wasn't coming. "And that reality includes individuals and organizations who are willing to do violence and willing to use the university as a battleground". "She is one of the most inspiring writers in America today".
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