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After threats of violence aimed at conservative pundit Ann Coulters planned speaking event rattled officials at the University of California, Berkeley, the university proposed to reschedule the date. Coulter has rejected the offer.

What are they going to do? Arrest me? Coulter asked Fox News host Tucker Carlson Wednesday night after the university initially said she couldnt speak on campus on April 27.

The decision to cancel that event came amid worries that it could spark the same kind of politically related violent protests the campus has seen in the last few months.Coulter was invited by the Berkeley College Republicans.University spokesman Dan Mogulof told The Huffington Post that police had learnedthat groups responsible for earlier violent demonstrations planned to target Coulters speech.

On Thursday, university officials backtracked and said they would reschedule her event for May 2, when they could provide adequate security. That day falls within a quiet week when classes have ended and students are studying for finals. Coulter refused the offer on Friday, noting that fewer students would be around to potentially hear her.

She and the student group that invited her have now obtained a lawyer, according to The Washington Post. They are threatening litigation if the university doesnt let her speak on the original date.

Coulter tweeted her frustration:

In a letter to the university on Friday, the San Francisco law firm representing the Berkeley College Republicans accused the university ofattempting to silence Coulter.

We demand that UC Berkeley honor its obligation to respect the First Amendment rights of its students, without regard to their political preference or affiliation, by ensuring that Ms. Coulter be allowed to speak on campus, the letter reads.

In a letter provided to HuffPost, the universitys chief campus counsel responded that Berkeley officials had not been consulted about the original event to begin with. Finding an appropriate venue with enough security was difficult because of the short notice, the university said.

On behalf of BCR you have now rejected the May 2 offer, and so we have discontinued the extensive planning efforts that were underway to hold an event on that date, the letter states.

The university said it was willing to work with the Berkeley College Republicans to find a solution.

We are dismayed that your letter suggests a disregard of the professional judgment of law enforcement regarding security concerns, the letter says, but we stand ready to work with BCR to find a date, time, and venue where its rights and campus security can be maximized.

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Ann Coulter Rejects Rescheduling Offer From UC Berkeley - Huffington Post

Celeb conservative Fox News diva Ann Coulter is coming to town. Maybe.

Or maybe not.

Invited by campus Republicans to speak at UC Berkeley next Thursday, then uninvited by the school, then approved by UC but for a later day, Coulter remains somewhere between a show and a no-show for next Thursday.

In the meantime, even the notion of her making an appearance at liberaler-than-thou UCB is whipping local activists into a frenzy.

But why? After all, Coulter is not nearly as incendiary as former Breitbart News provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, another conservative scheduled to speak at Cal before the threat of riots caused the school to call the whole thing off.

You be the judge: Here are just a few of the bon mots that have come out of Coulters pie hole over the years:

And, just for the heck of it, here are some of the things her detractors are saying on Twitter and elsewhere this week:

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What is Ann Coulter saying that's got everyone so worked up? - The Mercury News

Conservative Infighting: Ann Coulter Says Drudge Promotes Fake News

Conservative punditAnn Coulter took to Twitter on Thursday night to mock her friend Matt Drudge for promoting fake news by reporting thatUniversity of California at Berkeley reversed its decision to cancel an upcoming speech.

Now @DRUDGE promoting FAKE NEWS:'Berkeley reverses decision to cancel speech by Coulter' Idea: Read past the headline on a press release!

Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) April 21, 2017

Drudge reported that Berkeley, which has been rocked by two violent protests recently, announced Thursday that it had reversed its earlier decision to cancel conservative speaker Ann Coulters April 27 appearance and will now allow her to speak at the school on May 2.

Also Read: Berkeley Blinks, Reinvites Ann Coulter to Speak Next Month

However,Coulter isnt cool with the change andstill plans to appear at Berkeley on April 27, the Washington Post reported. It appearsCoulter isnt happy that Drudge portrayed the decision by the school as a positive development.

Coulter and Drudge are known friends and were even spotted at a Miami Heat game together back in 2014.

Berkeley first saw violence in February when right-wing provocateur and then Breitbart News senior editor Milo Yiannopoulos was scheduled to speak at the school. The school canceled Yiannopouloss talk moments before it was to begin after some masked protesters hurled rocks and molotov cocktails and attacked members of the crowd.

Also Read: Trump Mocks 'Ridiculous Standard' of First 100 Days: 'Media Will Kill'

President Trump criticized the school in February for its decision to cancel the Yiannopoulos talk and tweeted a threat to yank federal funds from Berkeley.

Berkeley has been criticized for canceling the two speakers despite the campuss historic role as the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement in the 1960s and 1970s.

Coulter said in an email to The Washington Post on Wednesday that she believes that her April 27 speech had been unconstitutionally banned by the public, taxpayer-supported UC-Berkeley.

In another violent outburst, anti- and pro-Trump protestors clashed in Berkeley on Saturday.

Read original story Conservative Infighting: Ann Coulter Says Drudge Promotes Fake News At TheWrap

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Conservative Infighting: Ann Coulter Says Drudge Promotes 'Fake News' - SFGate

UC Berkeley has canceled a scheduled speech by conservative icon Ann Coulter over fears that it may spark further protests.

The school was at the epicenter of heated riots in February when conservative firebrand Milo Yiannopoulos was invited to speak on campus. Fights also broke out around its campus last week when pro- and anti-Trump protesters clashed during an event at Civic Center Park.

19 PHOTOS

Trump rallies turn violent in Berkeley, Calif.

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Anti and pro-Donald Trump protesters clash during the Patriots Day Free Speech Rally in Berkeley, California, U.S. April 15, 2017. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart

A man is treated after being pepper sprayed during the Patriots Day Free Speech Rally in Berkeley, California, U.S. April 15, 2017. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart

Anti and pro-Donald Trump protesters clash during the Patriots Day Free Speech Rally in Berkeley, California, U.S. April 15, 2017. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart

A protester is peppered sprayed by a counter protester during the Patriots Day Free Speech Rally in Berkeley, California, U.S. April 15, 2017. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart

A pro-Trump supporter bleeds after being hit by a counter protester during the Patriots Day Free Speech Rally in Berkeley, California, U.S. April 15, 2017. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart

Demonstrators in support of U.S. President Donald Trump gestures during a rally in Berkeley, California in Berkeley, California, U.S., April 15, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

A man in support of U.S. President Donald Trump (L) is being pepper spray by a group on counter-protestor during a rally in Berkeley, California in Berkeley, California, U.S., April 15, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

A demonstrator in support of U.S. President Donald Trump (L) scuffles with a counter-protester during a "People 4 Trump" rally in Berkeley, California March 4, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A man is pulled away from a scuffle as scattered fights break out between supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump and counter-protesters during a "People 4 Trump" rally in Berkeley, California March 4, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

A bloodied supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump is seen after a "People 4 Trump" rally and counter-protest turned violent in Berkeley, California March 4, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

A man (L) punches a supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump during a "People 4 Trump" rally in Berkeley, California March 4, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

Demonstrators against U.S. President Donald Trump throw a traffic cone towards opposition demonstrators during a rally in Berkeley, California in Berkeley, California, U.S., April 15, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

Counter-demonstrators (L) and supporters (R) of U.S. President Donald Trump fight for a U.S. flag during a "People 4 Trump" rally in Berkeley, California March 4, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A Trump supporter wrapped in a Trump flag looks on as multiple fights break out between Trump supporters and anti-Trump protesters in Berkeley, California on April 15, 2017. Hundreds of people with opposing opinions on President Donald Trump threw stones, lit fires, tossed explosives and tear gas and attacked each other with makeshift weapons as police stood by. / AFP PHOTO / Josh Edelson (Photo credit should read JOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images)

A man sprayed with milk after being struck with a chemical irritant as multiple fights break out between Trump supporters and anti-Trump protesters in Berkeley, California on April 15, 2017. Hundreds of people with opposing opinions on President Donald Trump threw stones, lit fires, tossed explosives and tear gas and attacked each other with makeshift weapons as police stood by. / AFP PHOTO / Josh Edelson (Photo credit should read JOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images)

An injured man lies on the pavement as another injured man (R), bloodied from a brawl, walks away after multiple fights broke out between Trump supporters and anti-Trump protesters in Berkeley, California on April 15, 2017. Hundreds of people with opposing opinions on President Donald Trump threw stones, lit fires, tossed explosives and tear gas and attacked each other with makeshift weapons as police stood by. / AFP PHOTO / Josh Edelson (Photo credit should read JOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images)

A woman gets milk poured in her eyes after getting sprayed with a chemical irritant as multiple fights break out between Trump supporters and anti-Trump protesters in Berkeley, California on April 15, 2017. Hundreds of people with opposing opinions on President Donald Trump threw stones, lit fires, tossed explosives and tear gas and attacked each other with makeshift weapons as police stood by. / AFP PHOTO / Josh Edelson (Photo credit should read JOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images)

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In light of these events, university officials said in a letter to the campus Republican group that had invited Coulter to speak that it had canceled her speech over worries that it may fuel backlash the way Yiannopoulos' scheduled appearance had. The same college Republican group had invited Yiannopoulos to speak in February, but his invitation was also rescinded amidst the violence that news of his planned appearance prompted.

After her speech was canceled, Coulter told The Washington Post in an email that UC Berkeley had been trying to force her to pull out of her appearance by "imposing ridiculous demands," but that she complied with "all of their silly requirements."

Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof told The Post that although it had not been in contact with Coulter, it had been in touch with the campus group that invited her to speak. "Everything we're doing is so the speaker and students can actually exercise their rights without disruption," Mogulof said. "It's unfortunate that people who think the university's efforts to keep students and the speaker herself safe are 'silly.'"

Coulter said those requirements included that she make her speech in the middle of the day, that the event only be open to students, and that the venue she'd be speaking at wouldn't be announced until the last minute. She had planned to speak to students about immigration.

Coulter said that she believes her right to free speech "has been unconstitutionally banned" by the "public, taxpayer-supported UC-Berkeley."

19 PHOTOS

Ann Coulter through the years

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Jimmie Walker and Ann Coulter during 5th Annual TV Land Awards - Arrivals at Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, CA, United States. (Photo by Barry King/WireImage)

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 23: Ann Coulter, left, is interviewed for One America News Network on Wednesday October 23, 2013 in Washington, DC. Coulter is promoting her new book, 'Never Trust a Liberal Over 3-Especially a Republican'. (Photo by Matt McClain/ The Washington Post via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 22: Political commentator and author Ann Coulter arrives at the premiere of 'Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!' at iPic Theaters on July 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 27: Political commentator, author Ann Coulter attends The Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe at Sony Studios on August 27, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 27: Commentator Ann Coulter attends The Comedy Central Roast Of Rob Lowe held at Sony Studios on August 27, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/WireImage)

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 27: Ann Coulter attends the Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe at Sony Studios on August 27, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)

CORAL GABLES, FL - MARCH 10: Ann Coulter signs copies of her book 'Adios America' at Books and Books on March 10, 2016 in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Aaron Davidson/Getty Images)

SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 10: Ann Coulter arrives at the TV Land Icon Awards at The Barker Hanger on April 10, 2016 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/WireImage)

CORAL GABLES, FL - MARCH 10: Ann Coulter signs copies of her book 'Adios America' at Books and Books on March 10, 2016 in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Aaron Davidson/Getty Images)

THE VIEW - Ann Coulter, Alan Alda, and Malcolm Jamal Warner are the guests today, October 16, 2015 on ABC's 'The View.' 'The View' airs Monday-Friday (11:00 am-12:00 pm, ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Photo by Heidi Gutman/ABC via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Ann Coulter speaks during Politicon at the Los Angeles Convention Center on October 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 22: Political pundit/author Ann Coulter arrives for the Premiere Of The Asylum's 'Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!' at iPic Theaters on July 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 22: Ann Coulter and Lou Ferrigno arrives at the Premiere Of The Asylum's 'Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!' at iPic Theaters on July 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 22: Political commentator and author Ann Coulter arrives at the premiere of 'Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!' at iPic Theaters on July 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JULY 15: Political Commentator Ann Coulter and actor Evan Henzi attend AN OPEN SECRET Los Angeles Premiere on July 15, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Bezjian/Getty Images for Platform Media Group)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JULY 15: Commentator Ann Coulter attends the Los Angeles premiere of Amy Berg's 'An Open Secret' at Writers Guild Theater on July 15, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Vincent Sandoval/WireImage)

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 25: Director Matthew Heineman and Ann Coulter attend The Orchard And The Cinema Society Host A Special Screening Of 'Cartel Land' after party at Tribeca Grand Hotel on June 25, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Author Ann Coulter speaks during an address to the 39th Conservative Political Action Committee February 10, 2012 in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

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She continued: "They just up and announced that I was prohibited from speaking anyway ... I feel like the Constitution is important and that taxpayer-supported universities should not be using public funds to violate American citizens' Constitutional rights."

University officials said they were initially unaware of Coulter's invitation because the campus Republican group had not informed the university it was inviting her. They said they found out about the event after reading about it in newspapers.

Coulter said in her email that she is still planning on speaking at the university, and the spokesman for Young America's Foundation, a conservative national group that helped organize the event, said Coulter is planning to speak on April 27.

"If Berkeley wants to have free speech, they are going to get it," the spokesman, Spencer Brown, said.

Berkeley officials said that they were not canceling Coulter's appearance because of her controversial views. "It has nothing to do with anyone's political views. We believe in unqualified support to the First Amendment. But we also have an unqualified focus on safety of our students," Mogulof said. "We are going to be making a concerted effort to explain the reasons behind this."

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UC Berkeley ditches Ann Coulter speech over fears of more protests - AOL

A day after canceling a scheduled speech by Ann Coulter for security reasons, UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks said Thursday that the right-wing pundits insistence on coming anyway persuaded him to rethink her banishment.

An appropriate, protectable venue will be made available on campus May 2 not next Thursday, as originally planned he said, adding that he would disclose the location only after Coulter accepts the new date.

Thats not likely.

Hours later, Coulter shot down the invitation in a series of tweets and said she will speak at Berkeley on Thursday as planned not only because she cant do May 2, but THERE ARE NO CLASSES AT BERKELEY THE WEEK OF MAY 2!!!

Photo: Michael Tran / FilmMagic

Ann Coulter speaks onstage during The Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe held at Sony Studios on August 27, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.

Ann Coulter speaks onstage during The Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe held at Sony Studios on August 27, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.

UC Berkeley asked Ann Coulter to speak on the Cal campus May 2 instead of next Thursday, as was planned.

UC Berkeley asked Ann Coulter to speak on the Cal campus May 2 instead of next Thursday, as was planned.

Political commentator, author Ann Coulter attends The Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe at Sony Studios on August 27, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.

Political commentator, author Ann Coulter attends The Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe at Sony Studios on August 27, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.

Ann Coulter rejects Cal offer to switch date of speech

That week is Dead Week, a time when classes are suspended so students can study for exams.

Its at an awful time, said Naweed Tahmas, 20, of the Berkeley College Republicans student group that invited Coulter. Also, the last day of instruction is three days later.

Do not fall for b.s. Berkeley press release claiming they rescinded cancelation, Coulter tweeted. GOOD NEWS FOR CA TAXPAYER! You won't be required to pay $$$$ to compensate me & my crew for rebooked airfare & hotels. I'm speaking on 4/27.

Dirks rejected accusations from Coulter, the student Republicans and the national Young Americas Foundation that the university was infringing on their right to free speech by originally canceling the talk this week.

The university has an unwavering commitment to the First Amendment of the Constitution, Dirks said, adding that student safety is of equal importance.

He said campus police had uncovered threats that could pose a grave danger to the speaker, attendees and those who may wish to lawfully protest the event.

Dirks said Coulters response to the cancellation that she planned to speak on or off campus next Thursday regardless of security concerns led him to ask his staff to find a protectable venue.

The location is not one we have used for these sorts of events in the past; it can both accommodate a substantial audience and meet the security criteria established by our police department, Dirks said at a hastily called news conference Thursday.

UC Police Capt. Alex Yao said, Our approach (to Coulters security) will be different than for the Milo (Yiannopoulos) event Feb. 1, when masked and violent agitators infiltrated a student protest of Yiannopoulos another right-wing pundit breaking windows, setting equipment on fire and shutting down his talk before it began.

Declining to offer specifics on security, Yao suggested that more police would be on hand. He said the Yiannopoulos protest and others March 4 and Saturday in Berkeley are causing police to look at how we staff.

Meanwhile, its unclear from Coulters tweets whether she intends to try to speak on campus or in the city of Berkeley on Thursday, and neither the Republican students nor the national Young Americas Foundation, that is paying most of her $20,000 speaking fee, responded to requests for comment.

An informal Chronicle survey of half a dozen event sites in Berkeley yielded not one that would or could have her.

Absolutely not, said Mirian Wolodarski Lundberg, co-manager of the 200-seat Finnish Lodge on Chestnut Street, when asked if Coulter could speak there Thursday.

The Finnish Hall was built in 1932 by immigrants, Wolodarski Lundberg said. Coulter, who was invited by the student Republicans to speak on immigration, is famously anti-immigrant. She also has labeled herself a mean-spirited, bigoted conservative.

Not only would we not agree with her politics, but we would also be concerned about the kind of crowds that she would attract, she said.

Nor could Coulter speak at the Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse on Addison Street, which has 490 seats. The Cowboy Junkies, a Canadian country-blues band, is playing that night, and I wouldnt consider canceling it for Coulter, said executive director Sharon Dolan.

Besides, Dolan said, the sites nonprofit status could be in jeopardy if it started hosting partisan speakers.

Other places booked Thursday: the 550-seat UC Theater, where a Beatles cover show is playing, and the Berkeley Repertory Theater, where Hershey Feder is playing Irving Berlin.

As for the 120-seat Berkeley Yacht Club, the Sierra Club has it that night.

And even if it didnt, there would be a riot problem to consider.

I would, obviously, have a slight concern about that, said the Yacht Clubs manager, Mark Sokolov.

Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov

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Ann Coulter rejects Cal offer to switch date of speech - Chron.com