Penn State protests lead to last-minute cancellation of Proud Boys founder's appearance

Penn State University officials canceled a Monday evening appearance by Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes as protests gained steam outside of the event.

“Due to the threat of escalating violence associated with tonight’s event, Penn State University Police determined that it was necessary to cancel the speaking event in the interest of campus safety,” Penn State wrote on its website and in an email to students. “Demonstrations regrettably turned violent. The University has been clear that the views and speech of the two speakers at tonight’s student-organization-hosted event are abhorrent and do not align with the values of Penn State.”

At 7 p.m., students received an email that read, “Avoid Thomas Building area. Crowd at Thomas bldg. is an unlawful disturbance. Leave the area or be subject to arrest.”

A line of police donning riot gear approach the Thomas Building pic.twitter.com/lEd5SbwIJ9

— The Daily Collegian (@DailyCollegian) October 24, 2022

Student organization Uncensored America were scheduled to host McInnes and BlazeTV contributor Alex Stein’s “Stand Back & Stand By.”

In a statement Tuesday, Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said “administration firmly denounced the two speakers.”

“However, they were invited to speak on campus by a registered student organization and as an institution of higher education, we support the fundamental constitutional right of free speech and free expression of all members of our community,” she said. “It is precisely because of this unwavering commitment to free speech that provocative individuals target our campus to deliver speeches.”

Monday night, the university encouraged peaceful protests.

“The University expects that people engaging in expressive activity will demonstrate civility, concern for the safety of persons and property, respect for University activities and for those who may disagree with their message, and will comply with University rules,” a statement said. “The climate in our nation has been polarized for quite some time. On campuses across the country, violence is proliferating and individuals are being intimidated and even harmed. This must stop.”

Bendapudi said Stein and McInnes “entered the peaceful protest and this action raised the tension. It is unclear which individuals onsite then resorted to physical confrontation and to using pepper spray against others in the crowd, including against police officers.”

She said: “Thankfully, it appears that no one was seriously injured in today’s event.”

Penn State students have reacted to the news that the event featuring Gavin McInnes and Alex Stein is cancelled. @DailyCollegian pic.twitter.com/1bko855I3n

— Arthur LaBan (@artlaban) October 24, 2022

According to the Centre Daily Times, university police did not deploy pepper spray, but some people were hit with spray. Here’s what transpired, according to the newspaper.

• By 6:40 p.m., police broke up at least one scuffle, with the officers on mounted patrol clearing that area.

• At about 6:50 p.m., several men with faces covered and dressed in all black began to antagonize the crowd and one sprayed the crowd. One person from the crowd asked the man if he was a Proud Boy; he responded by giving a Nazi salute.

• Just after 7 p.m., university police issued an alert calling the crowd at the Thomas Building an “unlawful disturbance.” People were told to leave the area or be subject to arrest.

•At about 7:20 p.m., 40 minutes before the “Stand Back & Stand By” event was set to begin, Penn State announced it had been canceled due to “the threat of escalating violence.” Demonstrations turned violent when protesters and police officers were pepper sprayed, the university wrote in a news release. (In an updated version of the news release, information about pepper spray was not included.) Pepper spray was not discharged by law enforcement, university police wrote in a tweet. One woman was seen lying on the ground, near 10 empty water bottles, while her friends poured water over her eyes. Another student who said he was caught in the cross-fire kept pouring water over his eyes as he walked away from the scene alongside a friend.

“Stein and McInnes will celebrate a victory for being canceled, when in actuality, they contributed to the very violence that compromised their ability to speak,” Bendapudi said. “Counter-protestors also will celebrate a victory that they forced the University to cancel this event, when in actuality they have furthered the visibility of the very cause they oppose.”