UCF cancels Milo speech on 'Gays and Islam' due to lack of security
A speech by Milo Yiannopoulos in response to the Orlando shootings was “postponed” Tuesday by the University of Central Florida because of insufficient security.
At the event, titled “Absolutely Haram: Milo on Gays and Islam,” Yiannopoulos planned to address the tragedy that occurred over the weekend at an Orlando gay nightclub, as well as social media threats he received over his Twitter comments on the shooting.
Breitbart News reported that the Deputy Chief of Police at UCF, Brett Meade,made an executive decision to postpone the event due to lack of resources, citing threats against Yiannopoulos and his audience that had been made on social media. The department urged Yiannopoulos to reschedule the event and change its format out of an abundance of caution.
Yiannopoulos is now scheduled to speak at a news conference Wednesday in Orlando to deliver the same address he planned for the original event.
“If local police can’t provide protection, we will supply our own private security for me and any journalists and guests who attend,” Yiannopoulos declared on Twitter.
Members of the media and guests were encouraged to contact a member of Yiannopoulos’ press team for access to the event. In addition to the protection of the UCF police, Yiannopoulos said he would consider additional private security if he deemed it necessary.
"I will not be intimidated by threats made against me made on social media and elsewhere. The press conference will go ahead tomorrow," Yiannopoulos wrote.
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