--- description: The event would be held outside which makes dangerous objects more difficult to detect from a security perspective. title: UC Berkeley Braces for Possible Protests During Ann Coulter Speech image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7d09ac20db332094/6988ca9a7cdbac3905d58116/ann-coulter-uc-berkeley.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # UC Berkeley Braces for Possible Protests During Ann Coulter Speech  by [Alana Abramson](/author/alana-abramson/)  ## Alana Abramson Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 26, 2017 12:04 AM CUT  Ann Coulter delivers remarks to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Marriott Wardman Park February 10, 2012 in Washington, DC. Ann Coulter delivers remarks to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Marriott Wardman Park February 10, 2012 in Washington, DC.Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images  by [Alana Abramson](/author/alana-abramson/)  ## Alana Abramson Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 26, 2017 12:04 AM CUT [UC Berkeley](http://time.com/3764667/eloi-vasquez-berkeley-student-body-missing/ "undefined"), often viewed as one of the most liberal campuses in the United States, is preparing for protests during a planned outdoor speech by conservative pundit and author [Ann Coulter.](http://time.com/vault/issue/2005-04-25/page/1/ "undefined") If it happens, the event would be held outside, which makes dangerous objects more difficult to detect from a security perspective, said the school’s chancellor, according to the [Washington _Post_](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2017/04/25/uc-berkeley-readies-police-as-ann-coulter-plans-to-speak-in-public-plaza-on-campus/?utm%5Fterm=.8314e704e5f1 "undefined"). “If somebody brings weapons, there’s no way to block off the site or to screen them. In an open space you have almost no control over that,” UC-Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks said. Coulter was invited to Berkeley by college Republicans last week to speak this Thursday, but the University cancelled, [citing security concerns](http://time.com/4747329/ann-coulter-uc-berkeley-speech-canceled-security-threat/?iid=sr-link5 "undefined") and claiming they were unable to find a safe venue. Instead, they proposed that she speak [in May](http://time.com/4749670/ann-coulter-berkeley-speech-may/?iid=sr-link5 "undefined"). But Coulter vowed that she would speak on April 27. ” I am giving the speech,” she said on Fox News’ _Tucker Carlson Tonight_. “What are they gonna do, arrest me?” On Monday, the students who invited her sued the University. That same day, Coulter tweeted that Thursday’s weather looked perfect for an outdoor rally. > [](https://twitter.com/AnnCoulter/status/856585007053258753) There is precedent for the university to be so concerned about security. In February, an appearance at the University by former Breitbart editor [Milo Yiannopoulos](http://time.com/4657688/trump-milo-yiannopoulos-breitbart/ "undefined") was cancelled following protests outside the event. Following the incident, President Trump threatened to withhold funding from the public university. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4755099/ann-coulter-uc-berkeley-speech-protests/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4755099/ann-coulter-uc-berkeley-speech-protests/"},"headline":"UC Berkeley Braces for Possible Protests During Ann Coulter Speech","datePublished":"2017-04-26T00:04:35.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T04:36:13.295Z","description":"Officials said the security challenges of her visit would be \"immense\"","url":"https://time.com/4755099/ann-coulter-uc-berkeley-speech-protests/","keywords":["California","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7d09ac20db332094/6988ca9a7cdbac3905d58116/ann-coulter-uc-berkeley.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Alana Abramson","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/alana-abramson/"}],"articleSection":"U.S.","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7d09ac20db332094/6988ca9a7cdbac3905d58116/ann-coulter-uc-berkeley.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Leading Conservatives, Presidential Candidates Speak At CPAC Gathering","caption":"Leading Conservatives, Presidential Candidates Speak At CPAC Gathering","creditText":"Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/us/","name":"U.S."}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4755099/ann-coulter-uc-berkeley-speech-protests/","name":"UC Berkeley Braces for Possible Protests During Ann Coulter Speech"}}]}] ```