Ben Shapiro took the stage at UC Berkeley Thursday evening as hundreds gathered outside protesting against the conservative political commentator and two people were arrested for allegedly carrying weapons.
The 33-year-old former Breitbart News editor was roughly 20 minutes to the event being hosted at Zellerback Hall on the campus, but he thanked the crowd – estimated at 1,000 attendees – once he began his speech.
‘Berkeley has actually achieved building a wall before Donald Trump did,’ he said.
The Harvard Law School graduate who is now the editor in chief of DailyWire.com mentioned the significant security and how attendees had to go through an extensive screening process that included metal detectors.
His speech focused on the anti-fascist movement and the criticism that it’s received.
‘America is watching because you guys are so stupid,’ the conservative radio host said. ‘You can all go to hell you pathetic, lying, stupid, jackasses.’
Ben Shapiro (above) took the stage at UC Berkeley Thursday evening as hundreds gathered outside protesting against the conservative political commentator
The 33-year-old former Breitbart News editor was roughly 20 minutes to the event being hosted at Zellerback Hall on the campus, but he thanked the crowd – estimated at 1,000 attendees – once he began his speech
But Shapiro’s appearance in the Bay Area drew hundreds of protesters who gathered just off campus (above)
City police say 20-year-old Hannah Benjamin (left) was arrested Thursday for battery on a police officer and carrying a banned weapon. Meanwhile, 44-year-old Sarah Roark (right) was taken into custody for carrying a banned weapon
Campus Republicans invited him to the popular California university as part of his tour called ‘Campus Thuggery.’
But Shapiro’s appearance in the Bay Area drew hundreds of protesters who gathered just off campus.
Police with riot gear surrounded the plaza in front of Zellerbach Hall.
Authorities say at least two people were detained during the Refuse Fascism rally.
City police say 20-year-old Hannah Benjamin was arrested Thursday for battery on a police officer and carrying a banned weapon.
Meanwhile, 44-year-old Sarah Roark was taken into custody for carrying a banned weapon.
Campus Republicans invited Shapiro to the school as part of his tour called ‘Campus Thuggery’
California Highway Patrol officers in riot gear secured a closed area around the UC Berkeley campus prior to Shapiro’s appearance
UC spokesman Dan Mogulof said the university went through ‘extraordinary lengths — in some ways unprecedented’ to ensure that the event would be a success.
He said roughly $600,000 was spent on security, with another $9,000 for internal security provided by the student group.
There was several checkpoints outside the auditorium where the speech was planned, and officers were looking to confiscate banned items such as shields, masks, bandanas, poles and torches, UC Berkeley Police Chief Margo Bennett said.
For the first time in two decades, city officers were authorized by the City Council to use pepper spray to control violence.
UC spokesman Dan Mogulof said the university went through ‘extraordinary lengths — in some ways unprecedented’ to ensure that the event would be a success. Above protesters raise their fists on Thursday
University police did not intend to use pepper spray but ‘that’s not saying we won’t if circumstances call for them,’ Bennett said.
Plus, several streets around the campus were closed off Thursday with concrete and plastic barriers ahead of Shapiro’s evening appearance.
The city and campus have become a flashpoint this year for the country’s political divisions, drawing extremist groups from the left and right.
‘We can’t turn a blind eye to reality and to what we’ve learned from recent events on this campus and in this city and around the country,’ Mogulof said earlier on Thursday.
He said the school is committed to ensuring the safety of students and people attending the event, and to making it successful.