Ann Coulter cancels Berkeley event amid protests | Fox News

The hecklers used their veto.

Conservative commentator Ann Coulter told Fox News on Wednesday she would no longer give a planned speech at UC Berkeley after Young Americas Foundation pulled its support for the event amid threats of violence, calling her decision "a dark day for free speech in America."

The speech was originally scheduled to take place Thursday but Berkeley asked to postpone it until next month after protests over the planned speech grew into a nationally-watched firestorm.

"I looked over my shoulder and my allies had joined the other team."

- Ann Coulter

BERKELEY COLLEGE REPUBLICANS EXPLAIN LAWSUIT

Coulter, YAF -- which had helped organize and finance the event -- and the Berkeley College Republicans initially fought the schools decision, with YAF and the college Republicans filing a civil rights lawsuit on Monday. But by Wednesday YAF had actively opposed Coulters speech, she said, and ordered the lawyer not [to] file for [a] court order which would have mandated a room for the talk. The college Republicans are bound by YAFs decision, Coulter said, so theres nothing more I can do.

I looked over my shoulder and my allies had joined the other team, Coulter said in an email.

In a series of tweets, Coulter said she was "so sorry for free speech crushed by thugs."

"Its sickening when a radical thuggish institution like Berkeley can so easily snuff out the cherished American right to free speech," she tweeted.

'THE FIVE' ON ANN COULTER AT UC BERKELEY

In a Tuesday statement posted to the YAF website and signed by both YAF and the executive board of the college Republicans, the groups said Berkeley "failed to meet our demands" to provide a safe environment for the speech.

"Ms. Coulter may still choose to speak in some form on campus, but Young America's Foundation will not jeopardize the safety of its staff or students," the statement said.

YAF said Wednesday the group would hold a 4 p.m. ET news conference.

"The lawsuit has not been dropped," said YAF spokesman Spencer Brown. "At no time did Berkeley provide a time or place for Coulter to speak, and unconstitutionally violated the First Amendment rights of students in preventing YAF's campus lecture from taking place. We are moving ahead with the lawsuit."

Coulter was coy about what she would be doing instead of giving the talk.

I think Im still going to Berkeley, but there will be no speech, Coulter said Wednesday.

The university's attempt to call off the event came after a series of violent clashes this year on campus and in downtown Berkeley between far-right and far-left protesters.

The lawsuit demands unstated damages and compensation for attorney fees, a trial by jury and an injunction against Berkeley officials from "restricting the exercise of political expression on the UC Berkeley campus."

It names four university officials as defendants, including University of California President Janet Napolitano and Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas B. Dirks, and three police officials, including university police chief Margo Bennett.

The University of California president's office issued a statement saying it welcomes speakers of all political viewpoints and "is committed to providing a forum to enable Ann Coulter to speak on the Berkeley campus."

"The campus seeks to ensure that all members of the Berkeley and larger community -- including Ms. Coulter herself -- remain safe during such an event."

Fox News Michael Lundin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ann Coulter cancels Berkeley event amid protests | Fox News

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