Trump Threatened Federal Funds After UC Berkeley Students Protested White Nationalist
Donald Trump threatened to pull federal funding from the University of California at Berkeley after the campus protested a planned speech from white nationalist Milo Yiannopoulos. The protest was peaceful, until anarchists from around the area started instigating violence.
“If U.C. Berkeley does not allow free speech and practices violence on innocent people with a different point of view – NO FEDERAL FUNDS?” Trump wrote on Twitter on Thursday morning.
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
Of course, Trump can’t just blackmail UC Berkeley – an institution that receives billions of dollars from the federal government for things like research, student aid and healthcare programs.
The representative from that district, Rep. Barbara Lee, responded to Trump with her own tweet:
Pres. Trump doesn’t have a license to blackmail universities. He’s the president, not a dictator, & his empty threats are an abuse of power. pic.twitter.com/RQTtpCVnIs
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) February 2, 2017
Other California Members of Congress stepped up to defend UC Berkeley, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and even Republican Congressman Ed Royce.
Cal students on work-study or scholarships shouldn’t be punished for actions of a select few – I’ll push back against moves to do so (1/2) https://t.co/3EALPSdB2j
— Ed Royce (@RepEdRoyce) February 2, 2017
California gubernatorial candidate and UC Regent Gavin Newsom also shared his thoughts on the matter:
As a UC Regent I'm appalled at your willingness to deprive over 38,000 students access to an education because of the actions of a few. pic.twitter.com/zzUaaaUM3u
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) February 2, 2017
UC Berkeley released the following statement:
“Amid violence, destruction of property and out of concern for public safety, the University of California Police Department determined that it was necessary to remove Milo Yiannopoulos from the campus and to cancel tonight’s scheduled 8 p.m. performance.
“The decision was made at about 6 p.m., two hours before the event, and officers read several dispersal announcements to the crowd of more than 1,500 protesters that had gathered outside of the Martin Luther King, Jr. ASUC venue.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the violence and unlawful behavior that was on display and deeply regret that those tactics will now overshadow the efforts to engage in legitimate and lawful protest against the performer’s presence and perspectives.”
