The University of British Columbia has canceled an event with Andy Ngo, The Post Millenial’s editor-at-large, where he was slated to discuss Antifa violence, due to safety and security concerns from groups tied with the movement.

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The event, titled “Understanding ANTIFA Violence,” was scheduled to take place at UBC’s Robson Square campus on Jan. 29. Ngo was invited by The Free Speech Club, a group at UBC that organized the event.

Ngo is a vocal critic of Antifa and has covered many of their protests. He often condemns the violence they resort to during demonstrations, against people that disagree with their ideological views. This last year he was beaten and doused with unknown substances while covering dueling demonstrations in Portland, Oregon. So far, no one has been charged in the attack on Ngo.

Canceling the event: Chief Risk Officer at UBC Ron Holton, on Dec. 20, called The Free Speech Club, informing them that “[t]he reason for the cancellation is the concern about the safety and security of our campus community.”

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Possible legal action: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms sent a demand letter on Dec. 31 to the president of the university, threatening to sue the school if the event isn’t reinstated. In a press release, the organization notes the university called off the event despite The Free Speech Club paying a deposit and booking the event on Nov. 25, with a contract. It also notes that the school didn’t mention any threats or issues related to the event.

Read the letter here.

Worth noting: The Provost’s statement about controversial speakers on campus reads: “In our consideration of booking requests, we examine several key factors, including academic freedom, freedom of expression, security concerns and whether the speakers have, under Criminal Code of Canada provisions, been convicted of hate speech or have been found by a Human Rights Tribunal to have breached speech provisions. In the case of the speakers this fall, they have not. Any speaker convicted of hate speech, or to have breached similar provisions by a Human Rights Tribunal in Canada, would not be permitted to present those views at UBC.”

“Over hundreds of years, universities have played a central role in providing a forum where ideas can be expressed, debated, and challenged, and where participants can gain insight and greater mutual understanding. Through this role they have contributed to a better understanding of the world. UBC is the inheritor of this tradition and has long pursued proactive support for academic freedom and freedom of expression as core values.”

UBC recently postponed another event for Jan. 15 over safety concerns. The event will feature feminism-critic and professor of literature Janice Fiamengo, the Post Millenial reported.

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