Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw federal funds from the University of California, Berkeley in the wake of violent protests over a speech by Milo Yiannopoulos.
The President said he could remove the cash if it fails to ensure free speech and non-violence on its campus, following the chaos that erupted last night, leading to Yiannopoulos’s talk being cancelled.
Trump tweeted at 3am California time, saying: “If U.C. Berkeley does not allow free speech and practices violence on innocent people with a different point of view – NO FEDERAL FUNDS?”
If U.C. Berkeley does not allow free speech and practices violence on innocent people with a different point of view – NO FEDERAL FUNDS?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 2, 2017
The President reacted to the rowdy night on Berkeley campus, where protests against Yiannopoulos quickly turned into a riot, as protesters staged a full-on assault on the venue where he was supposed to speak.
The event was cancelled out of fear of safety. “I have been evacuated from the UC Berkeley campus after violent left-wing protestors tore down barricades, lit fires, threw rocks and Roman candles at the windows and breached the ground floor of the building,” wrote Yiannopoulos on Facebook.
Tree is now on fire at UC Berkeley #MiloAtCal #UCBerkeley. People keep shouting "it's lit!" pic.twitter.com/ypgu6D3T4t
— Gillian Edevane (@GillianNBC) February 2, 2017
According to multiple reports, the protesters used police battering rams to break doors, hurled bricks and rocks at police and windows. After the riot left the main campus area, it moved to the city and vandalized multiple buildings, including a Starbucks shop and Bank of America building.
Several people, including women, were assaulted by the rioters throughout the night. One video claims to show Yiannopoulos’ supporters being chased down and “beat unconscious with metal poles.” Another video that went viral overnight, shows a Trump supporter being pepper-sprayed by the radicals.
Young girl doing nothing, has head smashed with a pole then she's tear gassed by #antifa hello @ucdp_cal @UCBerkeley #UCBerkeley #MiloAtCal pic.twitter.com/VSFW5A6fDO
— Patriotic Rosie (@almostjingo) February 2, 2017
The UC Berkeley event was supposed to be the last stop on Yiannopolous’s “Dangerous F–t” West Coast tour. Earlier this week, the school claimed they increased the security to prevent any incidents. Berkeley officials refused to cancel the event, despite calls from campus objectors.
