Conservative radio host Ben Shapiro spoke at the University of California Berkeley despite the protests that met him outside.
Extensive security, including police in full riot gear, metal detectors, concrete barriers and police barricades provided Shapiro with a safe zone to deliver a speech and answer questions Thursday at the college campus that was home to the 1960’s Free Speech Movement, Fox News reported.
Ben Shapiro speaks at UC Berkeley despite arrests and protestshttps://t.co/oZ4UrOCloN
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 15, 2017
The security measures, costing about $600,000, were afar cry from Shapiro’s UC Berkeley talk in 2016 which required minimal security costs.
Free speech isn’t free. It costs over $600,000 thanks to Antifa.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) September 14, 2017
“No violence, no nothing. And now we are spending well into six figures so that I can say many of the same things. It’s utterly absurd,” Shapiro said the the gathered audience at Thursday’s event.
But the resistance came mainly from Berkeley students gathered outside, as anticipated violent protest from Antifa, or “anti-fascists,” did not materialize.
Ahead of his appearance, Berkeley snowflakes pulled out all the stops.
Sign opposite Zellerbach Hall in anticipation of @benshapiro event tonight. Cal has begun to set up the security perimeter as well. pic.twitter.com/COo0QSIZdg
— Berkeleyside (@berkeleyside) September 14, 2017
VIDEO: lot of anger & tension on the @UCBerkeley campus today, ahead of tonight’s speech by @benshapiro. Chalk graffiti will “welcome” him pic.twitter.com/rG4wnuuyjw
— Doug Sovern (@SovernNation) September 14, 2017
Chalk writings outside the venue for tonight’s speech by @benshapiro at #UCBerkeley. Protests expected. Police barriers are up. @CBSSF pic.twitter.com/2NZxAbgH1d
— Anne Makovec (@AnneMakovec) September 14, 2017
Of course, chalk writing did not deter the 33 year-old conservative who reacted on twitter ahead of his arrival.
Oh no not chalk what will I do https://t.co/QVuyLTdX04
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) September 14, 2017
Begun the chalk wars have https://t.co/EIiG86z48l
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) September 14, 2017
. @benshapiro is not afraid of chalk https://t.co/2N3SZIsTF6
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) September 14, 2017
Students protested Shapiro’s appearance but may not have even known why – or who the author of the bestsellers “Brainwashed,” “Porn Generation” and “Project President” is.
“Who do we hate?”
“What’s his name!”
“Who?”
“We really don’t know!”#BenAtBerkeley @benshapiro pic.twitter.com/QVGUyCtJgQ— Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) September 14, 2017
Students accused Shapiro, an observant Orthodox Jew, of being a white supremacist or neo-Nazi.
#DEVELOPING This sign is hanging inside #ZellerbachHall @UCBerkeley where @benshapiro will speak, a frequent target of white supremacists. pic.twitter.com/hEbhbZPE1a
— Laura Anthony (@LauraAnthony7) September 14, 2017
Now Shapiro is a white supremacist? ? Maybe do some research? Or independent thinking? https://t.co/zbdC7Oq9EW
— Jedediah Bila (@JedediahBila) September 14, 2017
Uh, @benshapiro is not a white supremacist. This is insanity. Liberals have thrown WS and Nazi around so much it’s insulting/ridiculous. https://t.co/C6EXAFC7Fp
— Yashar Ali ? (@yashar) September 14, 2017
He tried to set them straight.
Um ADL said I was the #1 journalistic target of white supremacist anti-Semitism on the internet in 2016, guys https://t.co/Ll26smMi1f
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) September 14, 2017
Well that’s funny since I also say no to white supremacist bullshit as well as your identity politics bullshit https://t.co/crgnyuAnTX
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) September 14, 2017
They succeeded in earning themselves plenty of ridicule.
They’re tying themselves into a knot – clueless.
— quest4truth (@quest4truths) September 14, 2017
How ridiculous. So clearly shows they don’t even have a small clue what they are talking about.
— PB Henri (@KSPBHenri) September 14, 2017
Wow. Don’t they know how stupid and irrelevant they make themselves look?
— Mark Conn (@CaptainBString) September 14, 2017
No one will every accuse these “protesters” of being well informed.
— BV (@BV_73) September 14, 2017
“Thanks to Antifa and the supposed anti-fascist brigade for exposing what the radical left truly is,” Shapiro told the audience later. “All of America is watching because you guys are so stupid. It’s horrifying, I am grateful, and you can all go to hell, you pathetic, lying, stupid jackasses.”
Shapiro praised the police for ensuring the safety of the event, saying “the only people who are standing between those ATMs and the Antifa are the police, and all they get from the left is a bunch of crap.”
“These are the folks that stand between civilization and lawlessness,” he added.
He spoke to the crowd on his views on abortion, economics and general politics and was not interrupted by any protesters inside the venue, according to Fox News, which reported a total of five arrests outside.
[HD] Ben Shapiro debates a student on abortion during the Q&A portion and it ends with an epic takedown. ?#BenAtBerkeley pic.twitter.com/r1lpt4xdZP
— Alex ?? (@SoCal4Trump) September 15, 2017
While the snowflakes were mocked on social media for many of their attempts to shut down the conservative speaker, one chant in particular seemed to win the night.
“Speech is violent, we will not be silent!” Students protesting #BenAtBerkeley. pic.twitter.com/49V6DD9OI7
— Sophia Lee Sohyun (@SophiaLeeHyun) September 15, 2017
Read this slowly.
It makes no sense. https://t.co/t68SdCHnGw— Benny (@bennyjohnson) September 15, 2017
Do these idiots hear and understand the words they are chanting? https://t.co/p8bwZBP6Ku
— BayAreaFrau (@bayareahausfrau) September 15, 2017
Twitter users continued to ponder the “leftist parenting” that led to this.
Wake up right! Receive our free morning news blast HERE
If speech is violent, shouldn’t they be silent? https://t.co/w9sHyvxDei
— jon gabriel (@exjon) September 15, 2017
I’m guessing their parents didn’t teach them the sticks and stones rhyme. https://t.co/JmLKPzMGEF
— Renna (@RennaW) September 15, 2017
Apparently these students have never had a logic class. https://t.co/RdxwtMNuhD
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) September 15, 2017
“Speech is violent.” Fucking cretins https://t.co/VhhVkD9bU9
— Allahpundit (@allahpundit) September 15, 2017
— james zeruk (@JamesZeruk) September 15, 2017
A full generation of leftist parenting right there…. Geez!
— CdnSewerRat? (@singofhisgrace) September 15, 2017
It takes a certain level of stupid to think speech is violence. #BenAtBerkeley https://t.co/CVyK8tZM8A
— Georg Hieronymus?? (@abetterwest) September 15, 2017
Ironic fascism alert! #BenAtBerkeley #FreeSpeech https://t.co/24FpeahJ5Y
— ?? ƬЄƛƓƛƝ ƦЄƖԼԼƳ? (@velvethammer) September 15, 2017
If you hurry you can get your parents a refund on that wasted education. Real world gonna kick your ass
— Curt Schilling (@gehrig38) September 15, 2017
$100k / yr and a degree in anarchy ?
— fullofsunshine? (@FireFanMVP) September 15, 2017
“Speech is violent so I’m going to violently speak against this violent speech!!” ?
— Leslie Perry (@perry7846) September 15, 2017
So according to those terms the very CHANT(speech) they are using is therefore an act of VIOLENCE and should be PROSECUTED correct?
— jared_sandala (@jared_sandala) September 15, 2017
This is embarrassing. I swear if I saw my kid in this video chanting this idiocy, I would immediately cut off their funds.
— Helen Wheels (@txtiger1) September 15, 2017
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
- ‘So satisfying!’ Karma comes potty-mouthed ‘Kayak Karen’ after she berates other boaters - March 28, 2024
- RFK Jr talks media bias, addresses possible Libertarian ticket in wide-ranging interview with Chris Cuomo - March 28, 2024
- ‘Why are you doing this?’ Joy Behar panicked that ‘clown’ RFK Jr will hand the election to Trump - March 28, 2024
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!