Hundreds of protesters filled the student union at Cal State LA as a small audience waited to hear Ben Shapiro talk about how diversity threatens free speech in a union theatre Thursday.

The audience was small because many protesters prevented people from entering the theatre to hear the conservative commentator and author.

“It’s unfortunate that people were not allowed to come in because the school values feelings over facts,” said Shapiro.

Despite a call from Cal State LA President William Covino earlier this week to postpone the talk, who was invited by the university’s chapter of the Young Americans for Freedom, the student group and Shapiro decided to go ahead with the event anyway.

Covino sent an email to the group late Monday stating he invited Shapiro to return at another time for a group panel discussion to include “a group of speakers with differing viewpoints on diversity.”

Hours before the talk, Covino released a statement saying he made the decision to cancel the event in the “interest of safety and security,” but will allow the event to continue.

“I strongly disagree with Mr. Shapiro’s views. But if Mr. Shapiro does appear, the University will allow him to speak. We will make every effort to ensure a climate of safety and security,” Covino said.

Though school security and police were seen at the protest Thursday, many people attempting to enter the theatre said they received no help or escort past the protesters who blocked the entrance.

“People were trying to get in but crowds were forcibly moving them back,” said Monica, who declined to give her last name. “One person had water thrown at him by the protesters and then security escorted him out but no one else. It’s a bummer.”

Monica, a school teacher from Pasadena, said she came to the event because she said she values freedom of speech.

“He has the right to speak and I have a right to listen,” she said. “That’s exactly why you go to college to learn different viewpoints.”

Cal State LA student Deanna Carmona said she first was curious about the talk and what Shapiro had to say but changed her mind after hearing some of Shapiro’s comments about some students.

“I’m protesting the hate behind the event,” she said. “I felt like we should express our diversity. I don’t think that people should come here and incite hate. I’m here helping to reduce the hate. It speaks volumes that Shapiro doesn’t want to speak with other panelists; that shows he wanted the want attention. He was very provocative.”

Some attendees had to be sneaked in through a backdoor three at a time throughout the one-hour talk. Many who couldn’t get in just watched the livestream of the talk from YAF’s website outside.

Shapiro said because security couldn’t ensure his safety if he exited where the crowd was, he was escorted out a back way to avoid the protesters, but he did have a message for the protesters.

“Stop being fascist (expletive). You don’t get to shut down an event just because you don’t like what is being said,” said Shapiro.

And for Covino, “it’s not his responsibility to censor or dilute other’s viewpoints.”

If invited back to the campus, Shapiro said he would be open to a debate or future appearances.