Berkeley protests peaceful as hundreds rally over Coulter
Source: MSN/Associated Press
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Hundreds of people waving American flags and chanting "USA" held a raucous rally Thursday at a park in Berkeley — home of the free speech movement — to protest a canceled appearance by conservative commentator Ann Coulter, but the expected violence did not materialize.
Scores of officers in riot gear lined up in preparation for possible violence between supporters and opponents of Coulter, but there were no major confrontations, largely because members of an anti-fascist group did not show up in force.
Coulter did not appear at the rally or show up at the University of California, Berkeley despite hinting that she might "swing by to say hello" to her supporters. Coulter had said she was forced to cancel a speaking engagement at the school. University officials said they had been unable to find a suitable and safe spot for her to speak, and offered a May 2 date.
She did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press, but she told Fox News's Tucker Carlson after the event that she wasn't going to say anything more inflammatory than calling for enforcement of immigration laws.
Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/berkeley-protests-peaceful-as-hundreds-rally-over-coulter/ar-BBAquAf
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