Young America’s Foundation (YAF), the organization that planned on sponsoring conservative author Ann Coulter’s speech at Berkeley, released a statement contesting Coulter’s claims that the group acquiesced to Berkeley’s cancellation of her upcoming talk.
“What Ann Coulter is saying is unfortunate. Most pertaining to YAF is not true,” the organization said in a statement emailed to The Daily Caller News Foundation. “Young America’s Foundation never canceled an event because there was no event to cancel. Berkeley never gave us a room or a hall.”
YAF had sued Berkeley after the school did not provide Coulter with a space to speak on Thursday, but Coulter alleged that the group did not follow up with a court order that could have possibly secured a place for her to speak at the campus on the same date. (RELATED: Ann Coulter Cancels Speech After Losing Her Backing)
“Ann is now saying we sided with Berkeley. Young America’s Foundation did not side with Berkeley,” the group continued. “We sued Berkeley. Litigation is unpredictable, but the facts in this case appear to be in our favor.”
YAF noted that the lawsuit would have been damaged and administrators would be more likely to stifle conservative speakers if Coulter had shown up at Berkeley without the university’s permission and if students were injured.
“Groups and individuals from the extreme ends of the political spectrum have made clear their readiness and intention to utilize violent tactics in support or in protest of certain speakers at UC Berkeley,” said Nicholas Dirks, Chancellor of UC Berkeley, in a school-wide email obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation. “While some seem inclined to use these events and circumstances to draw attention to themselves, we remain focused on the needs, rights, and interests of our students and our community. We cannot wish away or pretend that these threats do not exist.”
Dirks claimed that the school did not cancel Coulter’s speech and could not accommodate the author on one specific day, presumably referring to April 27 because of security concerns.
The chancellor sent out a subsequent email with safety precautions for university members, linking a guide called “How to Protest Safely.”
The Daily Caller News Foundation reached out to Coulter for comment, but received none in time for press.
Follow Rob Shimshock on Twitter
Connect with Rob Shimshock on Facebook
Send tips to rob@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
