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BERKELEY The furor over whether conservative pundit Ann Coulter willget a chance to speak at UC Berkeley this week continued to grow on Monday, with a conservative student group suing the university and Coultersuggesting she may show up Thursday even if shes not offered a venue to speak.

With the First Amendment clash drawing national attention, Coulter tweeted on Monday, Nice day for an outdoor speech at Berkeley, accompanied by four days of weather forecasts, Tuesday through Friday.

The university continues to maintain that it never agreed to provide a speaking venue to Coulter for this Thursday, cannot guarantee her security on that day, and has offered an alternative date May 2 for her to speak.

At a news conference Monday at the San Francisco office of Dhillon Law Group Inc., Harmeet Dhillon, attorney for Berkeley College Republicans and Tennessee-based Young Americas Foundation, said UC Berkeley abruptly canceled Coulters scheduled speech for this Thursday after weeks of discussion and a lot of back and forth. But UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof said later on Monday thatthe event was never canceled, because it was never scheduled, because we were unable to identify a venue. All suitable venues had previously been booked, he said.

In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco on Monday against UC Berkeley officials and University of California President Janet Napolitano, Dhillon seeks a judicial declaration that the university has violated her clients Constitutional rights under the First and Fourteenth amendments by selectively enforcing the High-Profile Speaker Policy against (Berkeley College Republicans) and (Young Americas Foundation), which unreasonably restricts the time, place and manner of political speech. The complaint also seeks an injunction against the applicationof any policies that restrict political expression on the UC Berkeley campus, as well as the awarding of attorneysfees and court costs.

At the news conference, Dhillonreiterated and expounded on many of the allegations in the suit and in letters she wrote to the university on Friday.

She accused the university of having come up with the high-profile speaker policy recently and secretly and using it to silence two of her clients speakers Coulter and, earlier this month, conservative writer David Horowitz while allowing a former Clinton administration official and former Mexican President Vicente Fox, a critic of President Donald Trump, to speak.

She also accused UC Berkeley police of standing down during violent protests against a scheduled Feb. 1 appearance by former Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulosthat was canceled shortly before it was supposed to start, after a group of masked protesters smashed windows at the student union building and set fires outside. She cited the Yiannopoulos cancellation as an example of the exercise of the hecklers veto,a legal doctrine in which thegovernment prevents a public speech or event on threats of interruptions, protests or violence.

The university is feeling increasing pressure from both the left and right to respect and defend Coulters free speech rights, with both liberal Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, and liberal comedian Bill Maher speaking out in recent days. In an interview on Fox News on Saturday, Coulter said she was still optimistic she would be allowed to speak Thursday.

I dont think it should be that hard to arrange, Ive done it hundreds of times, gone to college campuses she said.

Dianne Klein, the University of Californias associate vice president for strategic communications andmedia relations, said in a statement Monday that the university welcomesspeakers of all political viewpoints and is committed to providing a forum to enable Ann Coulter to speak on the Berkeley campus.

The allegation that Ms. Coulter is being prohibited from speaking because of her conservative views is untrue, Klein said, adding that the university is working to finda mutually agreeable time for Coulter to appear, while ensuring Coulters and the university and larger communitys safety.

At a news conference last week, UC Berkeley police Capt. Alex Yao said very specific and credible threats of violence had been received in connection with the announced Coulter event for Thursday.

Dhillon has said the alternate, two-hour, afternoon time window on May 2 that the university had offered is unacceptable because, among other reasons, students will not be in class that day and will be studying for finals.

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Lawsuit filed against UC Berkeley over Ann Coulter event - The Mercury News

Wall Street Journal (subscription)

Berkeley College Republicans Sue School Over Ann Coulter Speech Wall Street Journal (subscription) Conservative students at the University of California, Berkeley, who are seeking a venue this week for a speech by conservative commentator Ann Coulter, filed a lawsuit in federal court on Monday against the school. The suit claims the action is ...

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Berkeley College Republicans Sue School Over Ann Coulter Speech - Wall Street Journal (subscription)

Inside Higher Ed

New round in debate over Ann Coulter and her right to speak at Berkeley Inside Higher Ed The fight over whether and when Ann Coulter will speak at the University of California, Berkeley, did not end with the university's invitation to her to speak there May 2. Before that invitation was extended, the university had said it could not allow ... UC Berkeley reschedules Ann Coulter talk -- and raises thorny legal questionPBS NewsHour UC Berkeley students threaten to sue over Ann Coulter visitFox News Lawyer For College Republicans In Berkeley Says University Is Denying Free Speech For Canceling Ann CoulterCBS Philly TheBlaze.com -New Republic -Washington Post -Young America's Foundation all 259 news articles »

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New round in debate over Ann Coulter and her right to speak at Berkeley - Inside Higher Ed

Conservative firebrand Ann Coulter found an unlikely ally in Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) over the weekend when the self-described democratic-socialist defended Coulters right to speak on a college campus.

The University of California, Berkeley last week canceled an event where Coulter was scheduled to speak, citing security concerns. University officials fearthat Coulters presence on campus will incite another round ofviolent protests similar to what happened in February something the school and city have become accustomed to in recent months.

Given currently active security threats, it is not possible to assure that the event could be held successfully or that the safety of Ms. Coulter, the event sponsors, audience, and bystanders could be adequately protected at any of the campus venues, university officials said.

But Sanders doesnt believe that what happened to Coulter is right. The former presidential candidate said Coulter should be allowed to speak on campus without fear of violence or intimidation.

I dont like this. I dont like it, he told the Huffington Post last week when asked about the situation.

Obviously, Ann Coulters outrageous to my mind, off the wall. But you know, people have a right to give their two cents-worth, give a speech, without fear of violence and intimidation, he explained.

In recent years, students, mostly liberal and progressive in their politics and worldview, have organized in force to protest conservative speakers claiming that their hate speech shouldnt be allowed on campus. Of course, the hate speech they refer to is hardly hateful and more often than not just an idea or opinion that the students disagree with.

Still, students have beendetermined to take whatever steps necessary to shut down speakers they disagree with and whom they deem bring hate to their campus. Its all in the name of silencing fascists, the students claim.

But Sanders disagrees. He told the Huffington Post that its just a sign the students are intellectual lightweights.

To me, its a sign of intellectual weakness, he said. If you cant ask Ann Coulter in a polite way questions which expose the weakness of her arguments, if all you can do is boo, or shut her down, or prevent her from coming, what does that tell the world?

What are you afraid of her ideas? Ask her the hard questions. Confront her intellectually, Sanders said. Booing people down, or intimidating people, or shutting down events, I dont think that that works in any way.

Sanders isnt the only noted liberal to come to Coulters defense in recent days. HBO Real Time host Bill Maher slammed the university on his show Friday and labeled the students f***ing babies.

Berkeley used to be the cradle of free speech, and now its just the cradle for f***ing babies, Maher said. I feel like this is the liberal version of book burning and its got to stop.

University officials have since rescheduled Coulters speech for May 2, a day when students will be deep in books studying for final exams.

Coulter, however, is insistent on giving her speech on Thursday, the originally scheduled day.

Read more:
Ann Coulter finds unlikely ally in powerful liberal politician after Berkeley cancels speech - TheBlaze.com

April 23, 2017 | :

I believe in free speech, the First Amendment and all that. Thats our starting point on campus, and in America. Its free speech for me and thee, as the saying goes, in a healthy democracy.

Ann Coulter

So lets not make Ann Coulter into a free speech martyr just yet because the University of California, Berkeley switched her speech dates from this coming Thursday, April 27, to a time and place that could assure her safety. That would be May 2.

Instead of being flattered that there are some people concerned for her personal well-being, Coulters not going to have it. In addition, the more she complains, the more it comes off as a less-than-fine whine.

There is good reason for the switched dates. Some people were actually thinking nice things about Coulter and showing concern, which is more than most of the public would. However, such is the price one pays for living life as the ever-provocative right-wing media persona of ones own creation. Shes Bill OReilly in a dress. And Im sure shes upset to not be considered for his replacement. Shell just have to make her noise elsewhere.

As Ive long said, colleges and universities dont have a free speech problem. They have a how to present provocative speakers problem.

And Berkeley has actually come up with a good compromise after it originally cancelled Coulters April 27 appearance.

Berkeleys solution a different date and a safer venue actually makes common sense.

Of course, everyone seems to have a dog in this fight, from the Berkeley College Republicans that sent her the initial invitation, as well as the national conservative group, the Young Americas Foundation (which incidentally reported as footing the vast part of Coulters $20,000 speaking fee). And everyone is threatening legal action.

However, university spokesperson Dan Mogulof said the school was on solid legal grounds and spoke about putting public safety first.

We are concerned about (Coulters) disregard for the assessment and recommendations of law enforcement professionals whose primary focus is the safety and well-being of our students and other members of our campus community, Mogulof told the Washington Post.

I suppose a right-wing, pro-gun fanatic like Coulter would say wed all be safer if everyone just showed up with their own guns. As I write the sentence, the notion is ludicrous.

However, I would like to see how much concerned she would have for her safety at a right-to-carry school like the University of Texas at Austin.

Instead, Coulter is all too willing to put herself up on a stake as if she werethe First Amendments St. Joan. The symbolism is more appealing than anything.

Coulters part of the showbiz realm of politics, which Donald Trump has exploited to the extreme. More than actually speaking to the crowd, Coulter gets her jollies from the process of getting to the podium. The news generated from being cancelled, then offered a substitute venue, and then rejecting that and threatening legal action, does more for Coulter than actually giving the speech.

Whatever she was going to say would not be considered news. Rejectinga substitute venue makes Coulter news.

What gets lost in all the posturing is the real problem of adequate public safety at events that draw large numbers of outsiders and potential disrupters.

The schools solution made sense. Hold it during day hours when the dark of night is not an ally to protestors. And have it during a break period. Fewer students, sure, but those students who desperately want to meet Coulter will be there. And those who dont will be away. Such a move also lowers the net potential liability to actual university community members.And the ones who want to see her and show up will be adequately protected by university cops.

Related: Rainy day blues at UDC: furloughs, pay cuts and tuition hikes at the University of the District of Columbia - University of the District of Columbia

A fair compromise. Personally, I would have had it while class was in session during the day. In a classroom, students who did want to ask questions and challenge Coulter could do so.

But again, thats not really what Coulter or the young conservatives are interested in. Its not about the public discourse. Its all about the public show, and exploiting the legacy of Berkeley, the great public university that has its symbolic legacy of protest and free speech. And now they have a weeks work of buildup before any speech or discourse occurs.

Coulter gets much pub.And likely will get to keep a chunk of her $20,000 fee whether she speaks or not.

If shes really interested in free speech, lets see her volunteer to show up at a class. Forget the fee. Go to a lecture hall and teach without portfolio. (What does Coulter know compared to say Robert Reich, the former Clinton labor secretary who teaches there?) Talk for a while and take questions. Make it a class, not a rhetorical circus for media attention. Act like a scholar with something to say, instead of a blonde mannequin with something to sell books, an image, a right-wing viewpoint. Lets see if she actually belongs up there with the best professors speaking to the students of arguably Americas finest public university.

Who knows what will happen this week?

But if Coulter wants to keep playing free-speech saint, Id settle for her showing up unannounced on Bancroft and Telegraph during the day with a bullhorn next to the mobile falafel stand. Lets see who draws more Coulter or the chickpea balls.

Related: Tuition freeze celebrated, but cost of campus living increases

That would be interesting if she were really about free speech, exchanging ideas or engaging with students in public. Next to a food truck. But thats not Ann Coulter.

Coulters the $20,000-a-speech right-wing media star, with nothing to say, but always happy to be the center of attention.

Berkeley should stick to its stand, offering her a way to speak, but putting public safety first. Its a good common-sense compromise.

A conservative like Coulter should be more appreciative of the schools cautious approach.

Emil Guillermo is an award-winning journalist and commentator. He writes for the civil rights group, AALDEF, at http://www.aaldef.org/blog.

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Guillermo: Ann Coulter No Free Speech Saint - Diverse: Issues in Higher Education