PITTSBURGH (KDKA Newsradio) — Penn State University officials canceled an event Monday night featuring the founder of the Proud Boys, a far-right, white nationalist group.
A student organization was hosting the event with Gavin McInnes and another speaker, but a clash between student demonstrators and a far-right street gang led to the decision to cancel.
Penn State released a statement saying the decision was made in the interest of campus safety after demonstrations turned violent.
"The climate in our nation has been polarized for quite some time," it read, in part. "On campuses across the country, violence is proliferating and individuals are being intimidated and even harmed. This must stop."
About 500 protesters are estimated to have been there.
Earlier this month, Penn State officials had refused to call off the event, despite pressure to do so, on First Amendment grounds.
While officials said the views and speech of the speakers were abhorrent, the protest was unacceptable because it obstructed the exchange of ideas and was a form of censorship.
After the cancellation, Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said in a statement, in part:
Bendapudi went on to say:
