Left-wing agitators have falsely labeled conservative commentator Ben Shapiro a “white supremacist,” in an apparent attempt to inflame tensions ahead of Shapiro’s speech at the University of California, Berkeley on Thursday.
Shapiro, the editor in chief of The Daily Wire, is an Orthodox Jew and a vocal opponent of the alt-right and other fringe white nationalist groups. Nevertheless, Refuse Fascism, a group that has previously organized violent demonstrations in Berkeley, labeled Shapiro a “fascist thug” and “white supremacist” over the weekend.
“Fascist thug [and] white supremacist Ben Shapiro is coming to UC Berkeley — The issue is not ‘Free Speech,'” the group wrote in a Facebook post. “The Issue is Fascism.”
The post linked to a Refuse Fascism statement declaring that “Campuses must become FASCIST-FREE ZONES.”
UC Berkeley has encouraged similarly dramatic responses to Shapiro’s talk on campus. The university announced that it would be offering “counseling services” to students upset by Shapiro’s presence on campus. (RELATED: DNC Platform Member Cornel West Tied To Violent Berkeley Rioters)
“We are deeply concerned about the impact some speakers may have on individuals’ sense of safety and belonging. No one should be made to feel threatened or harassed simply because of who they are or for what they believe,” Paul Alivisatos, the university’s executive vice chancellor and provost, wrote in an open letter.
Refuse Fascism has played a pivotal role in organizing previous mass demonstrations at Berkeley that have turned into riots.
Protests against Milo at UC Berkeley. Protesters chanting “This is what community looks like.” pic.twitter.com/a0YIZ3epIc
— Shane Bauer (@shane_bauer) February 2, 2017
At one such demonstration, far-left actors forced the cancellation of right-wing author Milo Yiannopoulos’ speech at Berkeley by staging a riot and starting fires on campus. (RELATED: ‘INFERNO’ — Milo Speech Cancelled After Rioters Set Campus Ablaze [VIDEO])
Refuse Fascism is backed by a progressive charity that is in turn funded by left-wing financier George Soros, a major labor union and several large companies, as TheDC’s Chuck Ross first reported.