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Arrests were made on Wednesday night when an appearance by Ann Coulter turned into a protest rally.
The protest lasted for over four hours, outside of Wheeler Hall at UC Berkley where she was scheduled to give a speech on immigration.
Coulter is a notoriously conservative media pundit.
The event, entitled "Adios, America!" was a discussion on the "current United States immigration system and the dangers of mass immigration," according to Daily Beast.
She is known for spewing anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rhetoric, so it is no surprise that the talk included more of same ideas.
Skylar Schoemig of The Daily Californian Tweeted out quotes from the speech.
Coulter said “we need an immigration policy that’s good for the people who already live there” #coulterspeech— Skylar Schoemig (@Skylar Schoemig) 1574314485.0
“By definition, we’re the freest country in the world,” Coulter said. “So any immigrant we bring in from any place… https://t.co/LwV843JsFi— Skylar Schoemig (@Skylar Schoemig) 1574315551.0
Barricades and police in riot gear guarded the building as Coulter was escorted into the event.
Officers have formed a wall on the north side of Wheeler, parallel to a wall of protesters #Coulterprotest https://t.co/zEstc8Xi6e— Amber Tang (@Amber Tang) 1574318567.0
Demonstrators chanted "Ann Coulter go away, immigrants are here to stay" and "this is what democracy looks like" as she walked in.
Several hundred people peacefully marching outside Ann Coulter event chanting “Ann Coulter go away, immigrants are… https://t.co/GWMs2dq6MM— Lois Beckett (@Lois Beckett) 1574306832.0
“Hey hey, ho ho, Ann Coulter has got to go” chant protesters as they wait for attendees to leave the event… https://t.co/k6cNEGCX7k— Amber Tang (@Amber Tang) 1574317795.0
Protestors also formed a human chain to prevent ticket holders from entering the event.
Students have locked arms and are preventing the fascists from going in to the #AnnCoulter speech at #UCBerkeley… https://t.co/LHWD3V2NId— Alex Hernandez (@Alex Hernandez) 1574312911.0
A couple people trying to get into the event are pushing their way through a thick crowd of protesters. "Dont let t… https://t.co/1X45zcWdfL— Scott Morris (@Scott Morris) 1574310692.0
Moments after Coulter entered the Wheeler Hall auditorium, an attendee called her a "Nazi."
Within minutes, a protester began yelling at @AnnCoulter. She was handcuffed and dragged out. https://t.co/Uw9EstOxbN— Joe Vazquez (@Joe Vazquez) 1574313974.0
That woman was Brandy Youssif, a student from Berkeley City College.
Youssif was quickly handcuffed and dragged out of the room. According to police and school officials, she was one of six or seven people who were arrested.
Newsweek reported that she was given assault charges, with her bail set to $60,000.
Refuse Fascism, the protest's organizer, is calling for Youssif's release.
FLOOD their board with calls to demand this student’s immediate release! Berkeley City Jail: (510)981-5766 & UCPD… https://t.co/4WUJ6p7lK0— Trump/Pence Must Go NOW—#OutNow (@Trump/Pence Must Go NOW—#OutNow) 1574317599.0
Atlas Winfrey, a Refuse Fascism protest organizer, estimated that 2,000 people at the protest.
Winfrey believes that more protests will take place in response to the arrests that were made.
It's not the first time that Coulter's presence has lead to a protest at the college.
In 2017, UC Berkley cancelled her scheduled appearance on the campus after officials feared they wouldn't be able to secure the speech site from demonstrators.
People on Twitter expressed confusion over why she was invited back to the school.
Ann Coulter was somehow asked to speak at Berkeley tonight. So hundreds have shown up in protest. https://t.co/wMysblnHgV— Joshua Potash 🆘 (@Joshua Potash 🆘) 1574306473.0
@JoshuaPotash Why would they even schedule her, the students know what she thinks already, they don't want to hear… https://t.co/NdaUGxWhNM— Steve Hollywood (@Steve Hollywood) 1574326752.0
@JoshuaPotash @JustLaurie40 Nazi Anne shouldn't be speaking anywhere.— Working Class Hero (@Working Class Hero) 1574344215.0
#AnnCoulter is still a thing, apparently. And she is at Berkely. And it's going as about as well as you can imagine by the looks of things.— Chris "Cent-Can Atheist" Hearn (@Chris "Cent-Can Atheist" Hearn) 1574310168.0
Others praised the students for taking a stand against Coulter and UC Berkeley.
#AnnCoulter is a NAZI! Right on to everyone who protested. Now, lets work to drive out TrumpPence fascist regime f… https://t.co/bGWgaBTG0w— Maya (@Maya) 1574311206.0
@farialeliza this!! there's a REAL difference btwn free speech & hate speech. #anncoulter is not coming to engage i… https://t.co/2PNpvLxhHv— das (@das) 1574307304.0
Jack, a UC Berkeley Freshman, expressed his disappointment over the event to Berkleyside.
"It's even more appalling because today is Transgender Day of Remembrance. I'm here to represent my community as a queer and trans student. It's appalling that the administration would even consider having someone with extremely hateful rhetoric."
Jack, a Cal freshman, said they’re at the @AnnCoulter protest because they “don’t like fascists.” And to represent… https://t.co/KXOGUQlKfy— Berkeleyside (@Berkeleyside) 1574315119.0
As of yet, UC Berkeley has not made a statement about the controversy.
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