Conservative commentator Candace Owens spoke at the University of Pennsylvania on April 15 after being threatened by Antifa activists.
Antifa, a far-left group rooted in communism that openly advocates violence against people its members disagree with, was among those who said Owens shouldn’t be allowed at the school.
Owens, who is black, is the communications director for Turning Point USA, a conservative group.
An Antifa-affiliated Twitter account told followers to call the university’s president and other officials and urge them to cancel the talk.
While less aggressive tactics continue, such as phone calls, emails, speaking with the staff, and spreading awareness on social media, it seems likely that a large-scale confrontation is inevitable. We consider TPUSA to be a threat to our city.
— Fellow Worker Gritty (@FellowGritty) April 11, 2019
“Their adulation of free speech and patriotism just barely veil a neo-fascist organization working hand-in-hand with a ‘soft white power’ movement to recruit 18- to 22-year-olds—a well-worn tactic of early fascists from the Blackshirts to the Hitler Youth,” the user wrote in a series of tweets shared by Antifa’s Philadelphia chapter.
The user added: “While less aggressive tactics continue, such as phone calls, emails, speaking with the staff, and spreading awareness on social media, it seems likely that a large-scale confrontation is inevitable. We consider TPUSA to be a threat to our city.”
Other users issued threats, including one that said people should buy coyote urine at Walmart, put it in balloons, and throw them at Owens.
Owens posted footage of when she arrived on campus on Monday for the speech. Protesters shouted various phrases at her, including “[expletive] Candace Owens” and “[expletive] the police.” Most of the protesters appeared to be white.
Candace Owens is coming to Penn next week. 3 likes and I will attempt to throw an overripe tomato at her
— the motorist annoyer (@jamesgeso) April 12, 2019
According to the Daily Pennsylvanian, a student newspaper, about 20 protesters describing themselves as anti-fascist and wearing ski masks and bandanas to obscure their faces gathered on campus to shout at Owens. UMC chair and college sophomore Kevin Zhou said that six groups met before the talk to discuss how to react to Owens scheduled talk.
“We all know what she’s been doing around here. A lot of mocking, a lot of racist statements, saying racism doesn’t exist, mocking sexual assault victims,” Zhou said. “UMC was in full support of [the protest].”
Once inside the venue, Owens approached protesters to ask what she had said that they were offended by, according to protester Kate Silva, a freshman.
“She was coming over and looking at a lot of the posters and then asking students who were holding posters to give her examples of when she had said things or done things,” Silva said.
Antifa is here!! Enjoy this video of the neo-KKK stalking and harassing me as I try to invite a group of peaceful black students into my event at UPENN.
The Democrat’s domestic terrorist arm strike again!Too bad we will NEVER BACK DOWN. WE WILL BE FREE. #BLEXIT pic.twitter.com/qAps4vDNUZ
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) April 15, 2019
During her speech, Owens questioned the belief that all women who accuse men of sexual assault should be automatically trusted, linking the belief to racist beliefs in the past.
“The concept that we should just believe women is exactly what got my ancestors lynched,” Owens said. “We’ve learned our lesson the hard way with that.”
Owens also said that black people should leave the Democratic Party, promoting her “Blexit” movement.
“We’ve given our vote for the last 60 years to the Democrat Party and we have absolutely nothing to show in return,” Owens said. “Why the hell did Hillary Clinton get 89% of the black vote when it was her husband, while she was with him in the Oval Office, that locked up more black men than any president in the history of the United States with his Three Strikes act?”
