Wednesday November 1, 2017
Volume 102 Issue 33
The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton
Halloween with Milo: A campus divided
FERNANDO SALAZAR / DAILY TITAN
Police units outside of the Titan Student Union were in full force as large crowds gathered to protest the apperance of Milo Yiannopoulos Tuesday Night. During one heated moment, police flanked the protesters and detained two members of the anti-facsist group Joe Hill Brigade. Both were eventually released without charges.
After months of preparations by the College Republicans club, Milo Yiannopoulos brought his firebrand humor to a sold-out crowd. JASON ROCHLIN News Editor
Multiple arrests, Pollak Library closure came as a result of violent altercations amid demonstrations and protests. BRANDON PHO News Editor
Unity Block Party offered a peaceful alternative to the provocateur’s speech with speakers, musical performances. BREANNA BELKIN AMY WELLS Asst. News Editors
Over 800 people waited outside the Titan Student Union for Milo Yiannopoulos to speak Tuesday, ready to pack into the pavilions as law enforcement officers in riot gear kept watch with assault rifles and K-9 units. The doors to the event opened at 5 p.m., and it took at least a half hour for College Republicans club members wearing red t-shirts reading “free speech lives here” to direct everyone inside to be seated. Some members of the audience came in costume, keeping Halloween alive in the crowded space. When Yiannopoulos emerged from the left side of the stage at 6:20 p.m. in clerical clothing, the crowd burst into uproarious cheers and applause that continued as he shed the robe to reveal a purple,
patterned jacket and a clerical collar. “My name is, for the purposes of this evening, Father Milo: The spookiest man in America according to freakish journalists, predatory Hollywood producers, your decaying professors, the ghoulish Hillary Clinton.” Yiannopoulos spoke for an hour in the TSU. Over the course of his speech, he tackled recent sex scandals, conservatism in universities, Halloween, free speech and more with his characteristic brand of provocative humor. Hollywood Sex Scandals One of the main topics of his speech was the recent sexual assault allegations made against Kevin Spacey, Harvey Weinstein and other “leftist legends” in Hollywood and beyond.
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Eight people, including two members of the anti-fascist group Joe Hill Brigade, were arrested by Cal State Fullerton University Police in riot gear amid a swell of protests and provocations outside Milo Yiannopoulos’ Tuesday evening speech in the Titan Student Union. Yiannopoulos finished speaking as night fell, leading to the formation of multiple police blockades and Orange County Sheriffs on horseback. Attendees to Yiannopoulos’ “Troll Academy” tour stop filed out of the TSU to be greeted by a throng of demonstrators and hecklers, which had not decreased in size throughout the day, spurring confrontations that almost became altercations. Some attendees were chased off of Titan Walk. One female clad in riot
gear was pursued by a crowd and University Police into the Pollak Library after throwing rocks and pepper-spraying people. The protester hid in the women’s bathroom of the first floor as police cordoned off the elevators with batons and shields. Within moments, she was escorted out without her gear, hands bound by zip ties, to the applause of onlookers. University Police then ordered everyone to exit the library out of the east side. As students left the building, helicopters shined spotlights on the exodus and other parts of campus. Earlier in the day, riot-ready police units flanked the protesters on Titan Walk. The officers rushed the crowds with shields, detaining two members of the Joe Hill Brigade.
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Students for Quality Education and other student organizations hosted a Unity Block Party Tuesday in response to Milo Yiannopoulos’ “Troll Academy” tour stop at Cal State Fullerton. The event’s focus was to be peaceful and promote education as a form of resistance, instead of hate and violence, distancing themselves from the anti-fascist protests taking place on and around Titan Walk. Nineteen workshops were held throughout campus. They were presented by CSUF faculty along with on and off-campus organizations which sponsored the event. Many topics were covered including rights for undocumented individuals, student activism and life for transgender individuals.
CSUF adjunct history professor Jennifer Thompson gave a speech about North American transgender and non-binary individuals who are present in different industries. In her presentation, Thompson mentioned notable trans figures like former Navy SEAL Kristin Beck and actress Laverne Cox to illustrate that transgender people are present in all fields. Following the workshops, the event moved to the central Quad which was filled with organizations wanting to spread awareness. Planned Parenthood, the Democratic Socialists of America - Orange County and other organizations used the Unity Block Party as a platform to highlight issues regarding marginalized minority communities.
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