I knew I was getting close to the hall for the Ann Coulter speech when I heard the chants of “Hey, hey. Ho, ho. Hate speech has got to go.” That chant, along with a lack of general hygiene became popular with campus protestors back in the 1960s and both have remained.
A group of rowdy students were right by the stairs that led to the entrance of the hall, one held a sign that said, “THIS IS A SAFE SPACE.” How ironic that sign appears knowing now that the speech was cancelled due to threats of violence and concerns over safety. Protestors were determined to shut this speech down and they did, through songs, cheers, pulling fire alarms and through threats of violence.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
When I arrived I was surprised to see such a long line-up, the doors were supposed to open at 7 and it was almost 7:30 when I arrived. Organizers had said no backpacks or laptop bags but I was hoping my press pass and my recording gear would be allowed in. I never got to test their security; before I, and hundreds of others, could get into the hall it was shut down. On the advice of Ottawa Police, the speech Ms. Coulter was supposed to start giving at roughly 7:45 was shut down at 8:45.
One of the loudest protestors outside was Sameena Topan, the young woman holding the “safe place” sign. Sameena told me she brought that sign because, “This is a space for all students from all backgrounds to come and feel welcome.” Sameena went on to say that no student should feel threatened or marginalized. Asked if she had protested, complained or tried to shut down Israeli Apartheid week, Sameena first seemed shocked at the question, then answered no.
Not everyone who in the line was there to protest, most had actually come to see Coulter and among those were those who liked her, those who disliked her and those who were curious. Adam was curious, a University of Ottawa student who came with his entire political science class to hear what the agent provocateur had to say and then pass judgement.
A bit further down the line I met Tom who was there to see Coulter, describing himself not as a fan of her work but as a free speech advocate. “Let me hear anything and I’ll decide what side of the argument I want to choose,” said Tom. A man a few years out of school, Tom described university campuses as places for free speech and the free exchange of ideas. I asked him if that was a quaint idea of a bygone era given the views upfront, “No, we gotta hold onto our free speech. We’re one of the few countries that have free speech.”
Of course, free speech did not carry the night at Marion Hall at the U of O.
As usual there were also thugs in the group, one young man must have felt particularly tough surrounded by his friends with placards and bullhorns, he started to pick on an old man. The man, who must have 50 or more years older than the student, gave as good as he got and eventually one of the thugs friends told him that picking on people over 70 was not a wise idea.
While the students of U of O were successful in shutting down someone they considered guilty of hate speech, one of their professors was busy telling the Ottawa Citizen that Coulter does not come close. Errol Mendes, a professor of constitutional and international law, says Canada’s criminal code sanctions against hate speech are designed to stop the sort of thing that led to the Rwandan genocide. “To me, that’s the sort of speech that Canada is rightfully trying to prevent happening over here,” Mendes told the Citizen. “Much as I detest everything (Coulter) says and stands for, she’s not that close to the type of speech that then leads to the dangers to society as a whole.”
But to the students, Coulter threatened their “safe space” so they ensured that the campus of one of Canada’s older universities was not a safe space for her. Shame. Shame on them, shame on the university for letting things get so out of control.
For more coverage from journalists that made it into the hall check out my press gallery colleagues, Steven Chase from The Globe and Mail and Deborah Gyapong from The Catholic Register.
Brian Lilley is the Ottawa Bureau Chief for radio stations Newstalk 1010 in Toronto and CJAD 800 in Montreal. Follow Brian on Twitter to get the latest as it happens.
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Comments
Funny how those on the left who hate, haters are the most violent, intolerant and hate-filled, scum you could ever want to meet and most of them aren't even white?
Why is Israeli Apartheid Week the litmus test of tolerance for you right wing talk radio types? Much of the world accepts Israel as an Apartheid state. The facts are there for everyone to see. Palestinians in the West Bank have to drive on separate roads, drink from separate water sources (that Israeli settlers often destroy or dilute) and don't even have a say in the daily running of their lives, including if or whether they have home to live in, which may get confiscated for the use of foreign Jews with no physical ties to Israel. That is indeed Apartheid, if not outright racism from the Jewish state. But of course, nutless North American journos wouldn't want to upset the apple cart of Jewish lobbies that not only hide Israel's barbarity, they promote people like Ann Coulter to be the mouthpiece that demonizes Muslims. Of course, she is not alone. People like Brian Lilley like to help them out too. You are part of the hate chain, Lilley.
"Funny how those on the left who hate, haters are the most violent, intolerant and hate-filled, scum you could ever want to meet and most of them aren't even white? "
I would say this is nothing compared to the Tea Party. Sure say the young turks can be considered biased, but there is no getting around what the tea party members actually say.
youtube(dot)com/watch?v=msjxC9NEN9E
and if that isn't enough I would sure say this is probably just a bit worse, not sure though, but maybe?
youtube(dot)com/watch?v=kziaTGghQcI&feature=channel
This is bull. Hate speech is not protected by our Constitution. When "free speech" violates the security of another Canadian, it ends right there. The night before she told a Muslim girl to "take a camel" for transportation because she doesn't think Muslims should be allowed on planes. This woman is full of hate and if anything, the police should make a list of who her supporters are and knock on their doors first when hate crimes are committed in Ottawa. She will be right at home in Calgary though. Canada's home of hatred for all things non-white or Christian.
The best thing to do about Anne Coulter is don't protest her
Just ignore her and she will go the way eventually, when she is deemed no longer relevant. Unfortuately far too many folk are too quick to jump on the "Offended Bus" when it comes to her and therefore give her the platform she obviously craves
She does not offend me but rather amuses me and I find her to be comedy gold. I think she is a village idiot
A little off topic John Wilkes, but
"...Jewish lobbies that not only hide Israel's barbarity, they promote people like Ann Coulter to be the mouthpiece that demonizes Muslims."
Oh here we go again! yup.. the good old Jewish conspiracy again. Those nasty Jews should all be rounded up and put in their place eh?
"Much of the world accepts Israel as an Apartheid state."
Yes, the Muslim world that is. ...and as we all know Muslim countries are such bastions of liberty!
"..the police should make a list of who her supporters are and knock on their doors first when hate crimes are committed in Ottawa."
nice! Lets turn Canada into a police state!
@CMG
The author made Israel a point of interest by bringing up IAW as a litmus test for tolerance. What was the reasoning for that if not sinister or trying to prove a point that Israel is a victim? Yes, people in many bastions of liberty such as Sweden, UK and France (where liberty was born) also protest against Israel and its Apartheid laws. A person protesting Ann Coulter better be protesting Israel because both entities represent the same racist ideology.
The only people I see in North America in danger of being rounded up are Muslims and it's right-wing Jews like Ezra Levant leading that charge with their support of people like Ann Coulter, who pretty much advocate that very act.
Hey John Wilkes,
Think about this. Israeli Apartheid week in Ottawa was just over a week ago. I would say that makes it pertinent.
Thanks though for making me part of the great Zionist conspiracy, I appreciate that.
Instead realize that I had a student in front of me, who had just said that no student on campus should ever feel threatened or marginalized, by words. So, follow the bouncing ball here. Student says no one should feel marginalized as she protests one event but had nothing to say about a week long event that might marginalize many. And she looked shocked at the question.
Does that make sense or am I still in the Zionist conspiracy.
I imagine if her target was anyone other than gays and Muslims, Brian Lilley would be writing a different article. AM talk radio bias at work here. Gays and Muslims are the favourite targets of Talk Radio, so it's a "free speech" issue when some idiot shock jock like them gets turned away.
@Media Bias
I see you listen and read without bias. Look at the article above where I defend the burka and say that we cannot have government banning pieces of clothing. Now, after reading that, recosider your comment.
If you don't believe in free speech for people you disagree with, you don't believe in free speech at all. Simple.
Brian,
Weren't opponents of Israeli Apartheid Week (including people in the mainstream media) told by pro-Israeli groups to avoid those events so as not to give them any publicity? Clearly you didn't write any blogs about it. Your station didn't cover it. Which is probably why you don't know that Israel actually is an Apartheid state. Maybe this student was taking your lead and ignoring IAW just as you and the rest of the mainstream media had. Her only crime here is that she didn't ask right back if you were at IAW, and if you were, why you didn't give it any media coverage as you are so willing to give this particular pro-Israel hate monger, Ann Coulter.
Heh, more lowbrow antics from UO underachievers. Can we expect much more from a university with such low admission standards?
Ok. I'll bite. John Wilkes - how many Palestinian populations exist outside of Israel and are their conditions of life better or worse than that of those within Israel? Oh, and what are the official religions of those countries? As states identify themselves with the Official Religion of Islam, then commenting on the behaviour of those states as it related to the religion are fair ball. I can't recall the last time that Israel was criticized based upon a religious conviction. I hear lots about poliitics unrelated to religion.
Also, thanks for supporting Brian by commenting on his blog, but it must pain you to participate in the free market system.
I don't care who gives the speech, be it an atheist bashing Christains (and I have heard those), or someone being said to bash Muslims, gays, whatever - everyone listening keeps their mouth shut and does not disrupt the speech.
Everyone can have their chance to speak - either have the anti's go outside and picket, or they speak inside after the main speaker speaks. When I go to hear someone speak, and I have listened to all types (and I especially like the dialogue afterwards about ANY topic), I want to be able to hear them speak without them being disrupted.
Those students who shut down Coulter's speech may have had losers and morons for parents or maybe are bad seed. Who knows.
Sooooo much tolerance from those fascist students.
There is no excuse for this. Anyone who says that Coulter got what she deserved is trying to provide cover for their desire to see people's free speech rights squashed. Its a way of saying, agree with us or be silenced.
The biggest problem these lefties had with Coulter was that she was not one of them - it wasn't about racism - although that is a good word for them to drag in to this or use at this time.
Their friends on the left can say anything but would never be accused of being racist and that has been proven in the past.
Their actions and methods were clear for all to see.
Did anybody see any debate of the issues so that we would know what the students were protesting? What a disgrace for the University of Ottawa.
"Their actions and methods were clear for all to see."
Viewing the organizer & student president Seamus Wolfe's twitter page gives good insight as to where he gets his inspiration.
twitter(dot)com/seamwolfe/status/1294072013
If the police and/or this university are going to raise the issue of "public safety," & they did & they believe that students have gotten so out of hand that the spectre of "public safety" issues must be raised, then why were no arrests made?
If this university (or any university) and the police there (or any police dept. in any town where there is a university) believe that there is a threat to the safety of the public, then arrest those students for disrupting the safety on the public. After that, expel them from the university & end their scholarships there & so on.
If not, then let the speech go on.
Free speech advocates need to push for this policy across campuses all over the U.S.
The threat of expulsion, arrests, fines, etc will stop fascists from disrupting speeches and bringing about an environment that threatens the safety of the public. This is the way for free-speech advocates to put a stop to this at all universities.
Ann Coulter and Ezra Levant canceled the event themselves to reach right-wing martyrdom. Of course, lazy journos that will jump to conclusions in supporting anything from garbage pro-Israel racists went the "free speech" way when they should have been exposing a couple of liars. It's not a free speech issue when the speakers cancel the event themselves.
media.uottawa.ca/mediaroom/news-details_1897.html
John Wilkes I guess a bunch of Jews pulled the fire alarm eh?
Ann Coulter and Ezra Levant canceled the event themselves to reach right-wing martyrdom. Of course, lazy journos that will jump to conclusions in supporting anything from garbage pro-Israel racists went the "free speech" way when they should have been exposing a couple of liars. It's not a free speech issue when the speakers cancel the event themselves.
media.uottawa.ca/mediaroom/news-details_1897.html
The police in Ottowa raised the issue of "public safety" not Ann Coulter. They thought that there was a public safety issue. Whomever cancelled the speech is secondary. There should have been no public safety issue raised by the police.
All students need to behave themselves so that anyone can come & speak, everyone can listen & there is no public safety issue raised.
This isn't the fisrt time that something similar has occured.
At other universities, students have acted so badly, speeches disrupted and chaos ensued that the city cops were called in beyond the campus cops calling an end to the speeaking engagement.
What I am talking about & getting to is POLICY:
We need every campus in America to have a policy that if things get to the point where the cops/university have "public safety" concerns then arrests need to be made, students expelled, scholarships stripped, fines levied.
The safety of the public is paramount!
Mr. Lilley, I want to commend you for having the cahones to ask Sameena Topan if she had protested against or tried to shut down Israeli Apartheid Week. The answer to that question is very telling, and it is one that was not asked by any other journalist I have read who reported on this appalling occurrence in Ottawa. Practically every major outlet has the "safe place" quote from Ms. Topan, but this is the only coverage I've seen thus far where her hypocrisy was drawn to the light by a very simple but targeted question.
Thank you for doing what others either declined to do or were not smart enough to think of doing.
Boy Mary thats alot of nastiness coming out there. Not a tolerant lady at all are we? Have you ever even been to Calgary? Columbie let Ahmadinejad speak, and you know what? Nobody was killed or even punched. This was a disgrace for all Canadians, and the whole world to see, you call this a country of freedom? Not in my Canada. I hope the "fringe" is not allowed to decide everyones rights for them in Calgary.
Speech itself cannot violate the security of another person. Actions can.
Who's actions were violating who's security here?
Here's a hint, it wasn't what Ann Coulter was doing.
Either you value free speech or you don't. Obviously some Canadians don't value free speech as much as they claim to.
If Canada has codified the right to not be offended, please point it out by linking to the statuate.
I was inside with Protection Services and I can tell you that they too were unprepared. Yet, they did the best that they could and I am happy that no one got physically injured. It was stressful inside the building and more than a few times, there was a feeling all hell would break loose. Thankfully, it never did.
This debacle falls securely on the organizers who did not see the inflammatory potential from both sides and instead tried to let people figure it out for themselves. And when it was clear that there was going to be no way to save face, they went behind closed doors and put volunteers in front of the cameras, the angry public and the protestors. So, with all due respect, don't blame the university as a whole...they too are just as upset. It falls on the organizers and they should be feeling the heat for missing the boat on this one.
Great ideas on here.
So, JT, what can be done to make things easier for organizers (whether it be a university, Ann Coulter, someone on the political left, etc)?:
Universities can say that the "public safety" - the safety of the public - will not be compromised and that when the police feel that the "public safety" becomes an issue and is raised by the police that students will be expelled, arrested, scholarships stripped and fines levied.
The safety of the public is paramount. When policies like this are implemented across The U.S. and Canada, then the environment on campuses will be more conducive to letting everyone have their voices heard with the public safety protected!
Brian Lilley
>>through songs, cheers, pulling fire alarms and through threats of violence.<<
Last I heard, songs and cheers were acceptable free speech. Of course pulling fire alarms is not.
Do you have proof that the fire alarm was pulled to prevent the speech?
You you have proof or examples of threats of violence? There is none in your article.
Shame on you for jumping to politically convenient conclusions. Shame on you for shoddy reporting.
>>Think about this. Israeli Apartheid week in Ottawa was just over a week ago. I would say that makes it pertinent.<<<
You are really something else...
Just because a person protests one thing, It doesn't mean they are obligated to protest everything else. No wonder she was shocked that the question. It was a profoundly stupid question.
From your own narrative, she was obviously protesting because she wanted "to feel safe" Don't you think it likely that the protest of a foreign government did not make her feel unsafe where Coulter telling everyone that people should not be allowed to ride in airplanes because of their religion would indeed feel threatening?
Where were the police when these threats were made against Anne Coulter? It's obvious our so called law enforcement is caving in to the radicals. It's truly pathetic that a handful of students can threaten someone from another country who came at the invitation of the University of Ottawa and then is forced to cancel because of threats from a bunch of thugs. Aren't the police there to protect us? Not that many years ago this would not have been tolerated. It's a shame and a disgrace.
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