ST. LOUIS (KTVI) – Some St. Louis University students walked out on a speech delivered by conservative commentator Allen West on Thursday evening.

West is a former Lt. Col. in the U.S. Army and a former congressman from Florida. He was invited to speak by a conservative group and a campus republican organization.

West recently called SLU students “cupcakes” who needed a “safe space” after learning flyers advertising his visit could not include the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism.”

Protesters arrived early for the speech and filled up most of the seats on the floor of the old West Pine gym. Once West began his speech, protestors stood up and walked out of the building. They also sold cupcakes promising proceeds would benefit Syrian refugees.

West has referred to the Muslim Student Association as a stealth jihad radical Islamic campus organization. During West’s speech, he criticized U.S. leaders for not addressing the issues of Islamic inspired terrorism.

“For whatever reason, we are allowing this incredibly violent ideology to come to these shores,” West said.

Azfar Shaik, one of the leaders of the campus Muslim Student Association, considers recent comments by West to be hate speech. Shaik said West’s comments have no place on campus.

“They are not part of the oath of inclusion, which St. Louis University holds so dearly,” Shaik said.