Berkeley, California (CNN)Violence erupted Wednesday night at UC Berkeley -- the same campus where the Free Speech Movement started 53 years ago -- hours before right-wing commentator Milo Yiannopoulos was scheduled to speak.
The university blamed "150 masked agitators" for the unrest, saying they had come to campus to disturb an otherwise peaceful protest.
Administrators decided to cancel the event about two hours before the Breitbart editor's speech. UC Berkeley said it removed him from campus "amid the violence and destruction of property and out of concern for public safety."

Black-clad protesters wearing masks threw commercial-grade fireworks and rocks at police. Some even hurled Molotov cocktails that ignited fires. They also smashed windows of the student union center on the Berkeley campus where the Yiannopoulos event was to be held.
At least six people were injured. Some were attacked by the agitators -- who are a part of an anarchist group known as the "Black Bloc" that has been causing problems in Oakland for years, said Dan Mogulof, UC Berkeley spokesman.
More than 1,500 protesters had gathered at Sproul Plaza, chanting and holding signs that read: "No safe space for racists" and "This is war."
The violent protesters tore down metal barriers, set fires near the campus bookstore and damaged the construction site of a new dorm. One woman wearing a red Trump hat was pepper sprayed in the face while being interviewed by CNN affiliate KGO. She was able to respond that she was OK after the attack.
As the scene spiraled out of control, university police warned protesters to disperse and issued a lockdown for campus buildings.
"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the violence and unlawful behavior that was on display and deeply regret that those tactics will now overshadow the efforts to engage in legitimate and lawful protest against the performer's presence and perspectives," UC Berkeley said in a statement.
"While Yiannopoulos' views, tactics and rhetoric are profoundly contrary to our own, we are bound by the Constitution, the law, our values and the campus's Principles of Community to enable free expression across the full spectrum of opinion and perspective," it stated.
As police dispersed the crowd from campus, a remaining group of protesters moved into downtown Berkeley and smashed windows at several local banks.
No arrests were made throughout the night.

Yiannopoulos had been invited to speak by the Berkeley College Republicans. He has been on a college speaking tour and had planned to speak about cultural appropriation on Wednesday.
In a Facebook Live video, Yiannopoulos described what happened as "an expression of political violence."
"I'm just stunned that hundreds of people ... were so threatened by the idea that a conservative speaker might be persuasive, interesting, funny and might take some people with him, they have to shut it down at all costs."
But some protesters said the Yiannopoulos event wasn't a matter of free speech, because he espouses hate speech.

UC Berkeley said it had prepared security measures following what had happened at Yiannopoulos' previous events. One of his planned speaking engagements at UC Davis was also canceled last month in response to protests.
"Ultimately, and unfortunately, however, it was impossible to maintain order given the level of threat, disruption and organized violence," UC Berkeley said in a statement.

Most UC Berkeley students who spoke with CNN said they were relieved that Yiannopoulos wasn't able to speak, but this was not how they wanted to accomplish that goal.
One student told CNN that he didn't agree with what happened.
"It's a sad irony in the fact that the Free Speech Movement was founded here and tonight, someone's free speech got shut down. It might have been hateful speech, but it's still his right to speak," said Shivam Patel, a freshmen who stood outside of Sproul Plaza.
The Free Speech Movement started at UC Berkeley in 1964 after students protested en masse when administrators tried to restrict their political activities on campus.
Patel said he supported peaceful protests, but disagreed with the way things turned out on Wednesday.
"It allows people on the right to say, 'Look at all these liberal Berkeley snowflakes. They're intolerant of speech.' I don't think it's productive at all. It does nothing to help this country."

Herzlos wrote:

 Frazzled wrote:
There's no way Trumps wall will work.

What if Trump's wall was not to prevent Mexican from entering? What if it was actually about preventing US citizens from leaving after he turned the US into an awful dictatorship?

 jasper76 wrote:
Another of example of how I didn't leave the left, but the left left me.

Spoiler:

Milo Yiannopoulos event at UC Berkeley canceled after protests
By Madison Park and Kyung Lah, CNN
(http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/01/us/milo-yiannopoulos-berkeley/index.html

Berkeley, California (CNN)Violence erupted Wednesday night at UC Berkeley -- the same campus where the Free Speech Movement started 53 years ago -- hours before right-wing commentator Milo Yiannopoulos was scheduled to speak.
The university blamed "150 masked agitators" for the unrest, saying they had come to campus to disturb an otherwise peaceful protest.
Administrators decided to cancel the event about two hours before the Breitbart editor's speech. UC Berkeley said it removed him from campus "amid the violence and destruction of property and out of concern for public safety."

Black-clad protesters wearing masks threw commercial-grade fireworks and rocks at police. Some even hurled Molotov cocktails that ignited fires. They also smashed windows of the student union center on the Berkeley campus where the Yiannopoulos event was to be held.
At least six people were injured. Some were attacked by the agitators -- who are a part of an anarchist group known as the "Black Bloc" that has been causing problems in Oakland for years, said Dan Mogulof, UC Berkeley spokesman.
More than 1,500 protesters had gathered at Sproul Plaza, chanting and holding signs that read: "No safe space for racists" and "This is war."
The violent protesters tore down metal barriers, set fires near the campus bookstore and damaged the construction site of a new dorm. One woman wearing a red Trump hat was pepper sprayed in the face while being interviewed by CNN affiliate KGO. She was able to respond that she was OK after the attack.
As the scene spiraled out of control, university police warned protesters to disperse and issued a lockdown for campus buildings.
"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the violence and unlawful behavior that was on display and deeply regret that those tactics will now overshadow the efforts to engage in legitimate and lawful protest against the performer's presence and perspectives," UC Berkeley said in a statement.
"While Yiannopoulos' views, tactics and rhetoric are profoundly contrary to our own, we are bound by the Constitution, the law, our values and the campus's Principles of Community to enable free expression across the full spectrum of opinion and perspective," it stated.
As police dispersed the crowd from campus, a remaining group of protesters moved into downtown Berkeley and smashed windows at several local banks.
No arrests were made throughout the night.

Yiannopoulos had been invited to speak by the Berkeley College Republicans. He has been on a college speaking tour and had planned to speak about cultural appropriation on Wednesday.
In a Facebook Live video, Yiannopoulos described what happened as "an expression of political violence."
"I'm just stunned that hundreds of people ... were so threatened by the idea that a conservative speaker might be persuasive, interesting, funny and might take some people with him, they have to shut it down at all costs."
But some protesters said the Yiannopoulos event wasn't a matter of free speech, because he espouses hate speech.

UC Berkeley said it had prepared security measures following what had happened at Yiannopoulos' previous events. One of his planned speaking engagements at UC Davis was also canceled last month in response to protests.
"Ultimately, and unfortunately, however, it was impossible to maintain order given the level of threat, disruption and organized violence," UC Berkeley said in a statement.

Most UC Berkeley students who spoke with CNN said they were relieved that Yiannopoulos wasn't able to speak, but this was not how they wanted to accomplish that goal.
One student told CNN that he didn't agree with what happened.
"It's a sad irony in the fact that the Free Speech Movement was founded here and tonight, someone's free speech got shut down. It might have been hateful speech, but it's still his right to speak," said Shivam Patel, a freshmen who stood outside of Sproul Plaza.
The Free Speech Movement started at UC Berkeley in 1964 after students protested en masse when administrators tried to restrict their political activities on campus.
Patel said he supported peaceful protests, but disagreed with the way things turned out on Wednesday.
"It allows people on the right to say, 'Look at all these liberal Berkeley snowflakes. They're intolerant of speech.' I don't think it's productive at all. It does nothing to help this country."

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:
You do realize that arguing that the left should stop using their free speech rights is doing exactly what you're condemning them for doing, right?

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:
You do realize that arguing that the left should stop using their free speech rights is doing exactly what you're condemning them for doing, right?

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:
You do realize that arguing that the left should stop using their free speech rights is doing exactly what you're condemning them for doing, right?

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:
You do realize that arguing that the left should stop using their free speech rights is doing exactly what you're condemning them for doing, right?

A federal judge has ordered a golf club owned by President Donald Trump to refund nearly $6 million to members who said Trump's team essentially confiscated refundable deposits after taking over the country club in 2012

U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth A. Marra ruled that the Trump National Jupiter Golf Club violated the contracts with members by retaining the fees and locking out many members who had declared their plans to resign.

In a footnote, the judge acknowledged Donald Trump's status as the nation's chief executive. "At all times relevant to this lawsuit, Donald J. Trump was a private citizen. As a result the Court will refer to him as such in this decision. In doing so, the Court means no disrespect to him or the esteemed position he now holds," wrote Marra, an appointee of President George W. Bush.

 jasper76 wrote:
Yes, that would be one way to appropriately protest while respecting the 1st Amendment.

But alas, that's not what happened.

And I think Milo Y. attends these college events because college student groups are inviting him and paying him to do so. They have a right to free speech. They have a right to peaceful assembly.

The left should seriously stop prioritizing the elimination of free speech, which is one of the most important liberal values.

 infinite_array wrote:
Second, the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly only apply to laws made by Congress. If private citizens, organizations, or corporations don't want to listen, then they have the right to cancel speakers as they wish. Had this been done in a more peaceful manner, then there wouldn't have been as much controversy.

tneva82 wrote:

 infinite_array wrote:
Second, the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly only apply to laws made by Congress. If private citizens, organizations, or corporations don't want to listen, then they have the right to cancel speakers as they wish. Had this been done in a more peaceful manner, then there wouldn't have been as much controversy.

Yes. But it wasn't done in peaceful manner. That's the problem.

 jasper76 wrote:
@Infinite Array: But it was not done in a peaceful manner. And I have seen several examples of people using violence to keep people from going to these Milo events. Someone was even shot at one. If this were an isolated event, I likely would not even have commented. But a pattern is emerging.

I sincerely hope you are correct that this is not becoming mainstream in the left.

 infinite_array wrote:

 jasper76 wrote:
Another of example of how I didn't leave the left, but the left left me.

Spoiler:

Milo Yiannopoulos event at UC Berkeley canceled after protests
By Madison Park and Kyung Lah, CNN
(http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/01/us/milo-yiannopoulos-berkeley/index.html

Berkeley, California (CNN)Violence erupted Wednesday night at UC Berkeley -- the same campus where the Free Speech Movement started 53 years ago -- hours before right-wing commentator Milo Yiannopoulos was scheduled to speak.
The university blamed "150 masked agitators" for the unrest, saying they had come to campus to disturb an otherwise peaceful protest.
Administrators decided to cancel the event about two hours before the Breitbart editor's speech. UC Berkeley said it removed him from campus "amid the violence and destruction of property and out of concern for public safety."

Black-clad protesters wearing masks threw commercial-grade fireworks and rocks at police. Some even hurled Molotov cocktails that ignited fires. They also smashed windows of the student union center on the Berkeley campus where the Yiannopoulos event was to be held.
At least six people were injured. Some were attacked by the agitators -- who are a part of an anarchist group known as the "Black Bloc" that has been causing problems in Oakland for years, said Dan Mogulof, UC Berkeley spokesman.
More than 1,500 protesters had gathered at Sproul Plaza, chanting and holding signs that read: "No safe space for racists" and "This is war."
The violent protesters tore down metal barriers, set fires near the campus bookstore and damaged the construction site of a new dorm. One woman wearing a red Trump hat was pepper sprayed in the face while being interviewed by CNN affiliate KGO. She was able to respond that she was OK after the attack.
As the scene spiraled out of control, university police warned protesters to disperse and issued a lockdown for campus buildings.
"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the violence and unlawful behavior that was on display and deeply regret that those tactics will now overshadow the efforts to engage in legitimate and lawful protest against the performer's presence and perspectives," UC Berkeley said in a statement.
"While Yiannopoulos' views, tactics and rhetoric are profoundly contrary to our own, we are bound by the Constitution, the law, our values and the campus's Principles of Community to enable free expression across the full spectrum of opinion and perspective," it stated.
As police dispersed the crowd from campus, a remaining group of protesters moved into downtown Berkeley and smashed windows at several local banks.
No arrests were made throughout the night.

Yiannopoulos had been invited to speak by the Berkeley College Republicans. He has been on a college speaking tour and had planned to speak about cultural appropriation on Wednesday.
In a Facebook Live video, Yiannopoulos described what happened as "an expression of political violence."
"I'm just stunned that hundreds of people ... were so threatened by the idea that a conservative speaker might be persuasive, interesting, funny and might take some people with him, they have to shut it down at all costs."
But some protesters said the Yiannopoulos event wasn't a matter of free speech, because he espouses hate speech.

UC Berkeley said it had prepared security measures following what had happened at Yiannopoulos' previous events. One of his planned speaking engagements at UC Davis was also canceled last month in response to protests.
"Ultimately, and unfortunately, however, it was impossible to maintain order given the level of threat, disruption and organized violence," UC Berkeley said in a statement.

Most UC Berkeley students who spoke with CNN said they were relieved that Yiannopoulos wasn't able to speak, but this was not how they wanted to accomplish that goal.
One student told CNN that he didn't agree with what happened.
"It's a sad irony in the fact that the Free Speech Movement was founded here and tonight, someone's free speech got shut down. It might have been hateful speech, but it's still his right to speak," said Shivam Patel, a freshmen who stood outside of Sproul Plaza.
The Free Speech Movement started at UC Berkeley in 1964 after students protested en masse when administrators tried to restrict their political activities on campus.
Patel said he supported peaceful protests, but disagreed with the way things turned out on Wednesday.
"It allows people on the right to say, 'Look at all these liberal Berkeley snowflakes. They're intolerant of speech.' I don't think it's productive at all. It does nothing to help this country."

At the same time, I'd argue that the left is better represented by the majority of students who were unhappy with how the protest went down.

Of course, this was a stupid and childish action that only plays into Yiannopoulos' narrative and to his advantage. It's likely why he continues to hold events at colleges, knowing that there's a subsection of students that will always overreact and allow him to cancel the show and play the victim.

The better way to protest his events would be to attend and to make sure everyone stays completely silent. Don't give him the reactions he wants, and let the small sections of his fans make themselves obvious by their tiny minority. Let his toxic words hang in the air, because the best way to beat these kinds of trolls is just to let them speak.

 infinite_array wrote:

First, I think it's somewhat disingenuous to say that "the left" is attempting to eliminate free speech when these kinds of actions are done by a minority (rioters) within a minority (protesters) within a minority (Berkeley college students) within a minority (college students). This is also in the face of actual laws coming from Republican lawmakers in several states, and threats from Trump himself, to impose harsher punishments for peaceful protesting.

 infinite_array wrote:
Second, the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly only apply to laws made by Congress. If private citizens, organizations, or corporations don't want to listen, then they have the right to cancel speakers as they wish. Had this been done in a more peaceful manner, then there wouldn't have been as much controversy.

 infinite_array wrote:

tneva82 wrote:

 infinite_array wrote:
Second, the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly only apply to laws made by Congress. If private citizens, organizations, or corporations don't want to listen, then they have the right to cancel speakers as they wish. Had this been done in a more peaceful manner, then there wouldn't have been as much controversy.

Yes. But it wasn't done in peaceful manner. That's the problem.

Jasper's comment about peaceful assembly, and my own, were in referral to Yiannopolos and his supporters, not the protesters. Or so I assume from his wording.

 jasper76 wrote:
@Infinite Array: But it was not done in a peaceful manner. And I have seen several examples of people using violence to keep people from going to these Milo events. Someone was even shot at one. If this were an isolated event, I likely would not even have commented. But a pattern is emerging.

I sincerely hope you are correct that this is not becoming mainstream in the left.

It's as mainstream to the left as the people who flash guns at pro-immigration protesters or shoot into crowds at BLM demonstrations are to the right.

 infinite_array wrote:

It's as mainstream to the left as the people who flash guns at pro-immigration protesters or shoot into crowds at BLM demonstrations are to the right.

 Sentinel1 wrote:

 BigWaaagh wrote:
Just in case there was any inkling left as to what an economy-size donkey-cave Trump is. I mean, really!? Who the feth gets "hostile" towards Australia?

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/no-%e2%80%98g%e2%80%99day-mate%e2%80%99-on-call-with-australian-prime-minister-trump-badgers-and-brags/ar-AAmwmJc?ocid=ASUDHP

Well in some ways I could understand getting annoyed with Australia, we all know he doesn't want Refugees and wants to change things, so he would get up set at having to honour a previous deal. If you read into it, it makes Australia look bad too, they have 1,250 Refugees they don't want and are trading them to another nation like bargaining chips. Certainly from Trumps point of view I don't see why he should honour the agreement, as Australia is a huge and very wealthy country with a relatively small population. I don't know the reasons behind this deal but it looks like a case of pass-the-refugee-parcel no one wants. The problem is people and also Trump himself forget his was never a politician, he seeks to run the USA like his business which could be a good thing, but speaking to foreign leaders in such a way could be quite bad. As he said, he is putting America first, so hopefully that should mean no foreign appeasement for a change.

 CptJake wrote:

 infinite_array wrote:

First, I think it's somewhat disingenuous to say that "the left" is attempting to eliminate free speech when these kinds of actions are done by a minority (rioters) within a minority (protesters) within a minority (Berkeley college students) within a minority (college students). This is also in the face of actual laws coming from Republican lawmakers in several states, and threats from Trump himself, to impose harsher punishments for peaceful protesting.

Maybe that peaceful tolerant majority should have stepped up and stopped the ass hats from committing violent actions.

 Ustrello wrote:

 infinite_array wrote:

 jasper76 wrote:
Another of example of how I didn't leave the left, but the left left me.

Spoiler:

Milo Yiannopoulos event at UC Berkeley canceled after protests
By Madison Park and Kyung Lah, CNN
(http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/01/us/milo-yiannopoulos-berkeley/index.html

Berkeley, California (CNN)Violence erupted Wednesday night at UC Berkeley -- the same campus where the Free Speech Movement started 53 years ago -- hours before right-wing commentator Milo Yiannopoulos was scheduled to speak.
The university blamed "150 masked agitators" for the unrest, saying they had come to campus to disturb an otherwise peaceful protest.
Administrators decided to cancel the event about two hours before the Breitbart editor's speech. UC Berkeley said it removed him from campus "amid the violence and destruction of property and out of concern for public safety."

Black-clad protesters wearing masks threw commercial-grade fireworks and rocks at police. Some even hurled Molotov cocktails that ignited fires. They also smashed windows of the student union center on the Berkeley campus where the Yiannopoulos event was to be held.
At least six people were injured. Some were attacked by the agitators -- who are a part of an anarchist group known as the "Black Bloc" that has been causing problems in Oakland for years, said Dan Mogulof, UC Berkeley spokesman.
More than 1,500 protesters had gathered at Sproul Plaza, chanting and holding signs that read: "No safe space for racists" and "This is war."
The violent protesters tore down metal barriers, set fires near the campus bookstore and damaged the construction site of a new dorm. One woman wearing a red Trump hat was pepper sprayed in the face while being interviewed by CNN affiliate KGO. She was able to respond that she was OK after the attack.
As the scene spiraled out of control, university police warned protesters to disperse and issued a lockdown for campus buildings.
"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the violence and unlawful behavior that was on display and deeply regret that those tactics will now overshadow the efforts to engage in legitimate and lawful protest against the performer's presence and perspectives," UC Berkeley said in a statement.
"While Yiannopoulos' views, tactics and rhetoric are profoundly contrary to our own, we are bound by the Constitution, the law, our values and the campus's Principles of Community to enable free expression across the full spectrum of opinion and perspective," it stated.
As police dispersed the crowd from campus, a remaining group of protesters moved into downtown Berkeley and smashed windows at several local banks.
No arrests were made throughout the night.

Yiannopoulos had been invited to speak by the Berkeley College Republicans. He has been on a college speaking tour and had planned to speak about cultural appropriation on Wednesday.
In a Facebook Live video, Yiannopoulos described what happened as "an expression of political violence."
"I'm just stunned that hundreds of people ... were so threatened by the idea that a conservative speaker might be persuasive, interesting, funny and might take some people with him, they have to shut it down at all costs."
But some protesters said the Yiannopoulos event wasn't a matter of free speech, because he espouses hate speech.

UC Berkeley said it had prepared security measures following what had happened at Yiannopoulos' previous events. One of his planned speaking engagements at UC Davis was also canceled last month in response to protests.
"Ultimately, and unfortunately, however, it was impossible to maintain order given the level of threat, disruption and organized violence," UC Berkeley said in a statement.

Most UC Berkeley students who spoke with CNN said they were relieved that Yiannopoulos wasn't able to speak, but this was not how they wanted to accomplish that goal.
One student told CNN that he didn't agree with what happened.
"It's a sad irony in the fact that the Free Speech Movement was founded here and tonight, someone's free speech got shut down. It might have been hateful speech, but it's still his right to speak," said Shivam Patel, a freshmen who stood outside of Sproul Plaza.
The Free Speech Movement started at UC Berkeley in 1964 after students protested en masse when administrators tried to restrict their political activities on campus.
Patel said he supported peaceful protests, but disagreed with the way things turned out on Wednesday.
"It allows people on the right to say, 'Look at all these liberal Berkeley snowflakes. They're intolerant of speech.' I don't think it's productive at all. It does nothing to help this country."

At the same time, I'd argue that the left is better represented by the majority of students who were unhappy with how the protest went down.

Of course, this was a stupid and childish action that only plays into Yiannopoulos' narrative and to his advantage. It's likely why he continues to hold events at colleges, knowing that there's a subsection of students that will always overreact and allow him to cancel the show and play the victim.

The better way to protest his events would be to attend and to make sure everyone stays completely silent. Don't give him the reactions he wants, and let the small sections of his fans make themselves obvious by their tiny minority. Let his toxic words hang in the air, because the best way to beat these kinds of trolls is just to let them speak.

And the protest was peaceful until once again the anarchists showed up and started doing their thing

 Frazzled wrote:

I've not seen where protesters shot up BLM demonstrations. Can you reference?

 CptJake wrote:

 infinite_array wrote:

First, I think it's somewhat disingenuous to say that "the left" is attempting to eliminate free speech when these kinds of actions are done by a minority (rioters) within a minority (protesters) within a minority (Berkeley college students) within a minority (college students). This is also in the face of actual laws coming from Republican lawmakers in several states, and threats from Trump himself, to impose harsher punishments for peaceful protesting.

Maybe that peaceful tolerant majority should have stepped up and stopped the ass hats from committing violent actions.

 infinite_array wrote:
Second, the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly only apply to laws made by Congress. If private citizens, organizations, or corporations don't want to listen, then they have the right to cancel speakers as they wish. Had this been done in a more peaceful manner, then there wouldn't have been as much controversy.

UC Berkeley isn't a private institution. Even if you want to make the argument the US constitution does not apply to state organizations (an argument in regards to the Bill Of Rights you may not win), the CA constitution also protects free speech. http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&division=&title=&part=&chapter=&article=I

 Sentinel1 wrote:
that's one reason he won the election, he controlled the media coverage from himself and didn't always have to pay people for it.

tneva82 wrote:

 Sentinel1 wrote:
that's one reason he won the election, he controlled the media coverage from himself and didn't always have to pay people for it.

Nah he did squat do. Clinton failed to energize her followers.

 infinite_array wrote:

 Frazzled wrote:

I've not seen where protesters shot up BLM demonstrations. Can you reference?

http://www.startribune.com/on-stand-scarsella-tells-his-version-of-shooting-at-black-lives-matter-protesters/412193623/

 jasper76 wrote:
In case anyone is interested in a visual of what we've been discussing:

tneva82 wrote:

 Sentinel1 wrote:
that's one reason he won the election, he controlled the media coverage from himself and didn't always have to pay people for it.

Nah he did squat do. Clinton failed to energize her followers.