Milo Yiannopoulos Speech at UC Davis Cancelled After Campus Protests

The protesters blocked the entrances to the building and surrounded it with signs.

An event hosted by controversial right-wing commentator Milo Yiannapoulos at the University of California Davis was cancelled amid massive protests on campus Jan. 13.

Yiannapoulos claimed the cancellation was due to “violence from left-wing protesters,” although the university said in a statement that no property damage occurred and only one arrest was made, according to CNN.

“I am deeply disappointed with the events of this evening,” UC Davis Interim Chancellor Ralph J. Hexter said. “Our community is founded on principles of respect for all views, even those that we personally find repellent.”

The decision to cancel the event was made after the UC Davis Republicans consulted with the university’s police department roughly 30 minutes before it was scheduled to begin.

Hours before the speech, protesters blocked the entrances to the building and surrounded it with signs decrying the event.

Tensions rose between supporters and protesters, although the only arrest occurred inside the building.

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Former pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli was also scheduled to speak at the event.

Campus Safety has reported on similar incidents involving Yiannapoulos on college campuses, including a talk he gave at DePaul University that was overrun by Black Lives Matter protesters last year.

A study showed Yiannapoulos was the most likely person to be disinvited to college campuses in 2016.

Yiannapoulos is known for making inflammatory remarks and has been kicked off Twitter for life.

Conservative speaker Ben Shapiro has also been faced with protests and cancellations during events on college campuses.

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