One month after Sydney University's student union (USU) pulled funding from the screening of the Red Pill, the movie night went ahead on campus, with protesters clashing with supporters.

The Red Pill is a documentary following a woman who identifies as a feminist and then renounces the title after learning about the struggles men face in America. It promotes the idea that men's issues go overlooked because when men complain they are shut down by 'feminists'. It's very popular with Men's Rights Activists (MRAs).

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The screening was organised by the Conservative Club, Students for Liberty, and the Brotherhood Recreation and Outdoor Society (BROSOc) - small clubs with about 70 members between them. It had been planned for May 4, but USU pulled funding after complaints it breached a regulation that funds may not be used for activities that discriminate or harass on the basis of sex.

Until then, the screening hadn't had much publicity. There are about 60,000 students at Sydney University and about 40 had responded to the Facebook event.

The USU's decision to pull funds made headlines.

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Whatsapp Posters for the counter-protest at Sydney University.

It was the first time in at least five years the union had defunded an event of one of its clubs on the ground it discriminated or harassed.

"This is not a discussion about debate - this is a discussion about sexual violence," USU Honorary Secretary Shannen Potter told Hack.

In the past, campaigns to ban the screening of The Red Pill have helped publicise the documentary; a private screening in Melbourne last year sold 60 tickets and was canceled after a petition of more than 2,000 signatures. Other screenings have met similar opposition.

Tonight at Sydney University, about 50-60 protesters held banners and chanted outside the lecture hall where the film was being screened. About 60-70 people attended the screening.

Police twice broke up scuffles between the groups before the screening.

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Whatsapp Student protest against Red Pill screening at Sydney University.

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Whatsapp Student protest against Red Pill screening at Sydney University.

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Whatsapp Student protest against Red Pill screening at Sydney University.

"We had 50 heavyset Men's Rights Activists provocatively approaching our protests," Eleanor Morley from the Socialist Alternative told Hack.

"We came here to counter their message of hatred bigotry and misogyny with one that is pro-women and pro-LGBTI people."

Asked if the protest had publicised The Red Pill screening, she answered:

"I don't think that's necessarily true.

"I think it's important whenever an event is put on by the far right and people who fundamentally agree with their messages of hatred, [that we] should try and stop them from having their meetings or events go ahead without an opposing view being heard."

Renee Gorman, a journalism student and a member of all three clubs organising the screening, said she did not have a "message of hatred".

"I'm not a bigot or a racist, I'm not anti-queer, I'm not all the labels they've attached to me," she said.

"All I really want is for there to be a discussion about legitimate male issues.

"It's not an either/or issue."

The screening went ahead behind soundproof doors.