UBC sued for violating free speech, cancelling Andy Ngo speaking event

The event entitled “Understanding Antifa Violence” was organized by the Free Speech Club and was supposed to take place in January of 2020. The JCCF issued a press release that read:

"The Free Speech Club confirmed the Andy Ngo event booking with UBC, signed the contract and paid the required booking deposit. However, in December 2019, the UBC suddenly pulled the plug on the event without notice."

JCCF lawyer Marty Moore said, "UBC cancelled the Ngo event in an arbitrary and secretive fashion, in violation of its own commitments to respect ‘the right to freedom of expression’ and to uphold students’ and visitors’ right to ‘engage in full and unrestricted consideration of any opinion.’ It is unreasonable and unconscionable for a public institution to cancel an event on the basis that the speaker has been a victim of violence."

Director of The Free Speech Club Angelo Isidorou said, "Since the cancellation of our event, the environment on campus has only gotten more divisive as a result. UBC has now evolved their justification for stifling free speech. First it was safety, but now the University outright opposes any speakers or events that are controversial or offensive. Who decides what is offensive? It is a slippery slope to merely stifle free speech due to controversy and threats of violence. It’s time UBC answers these questions in court."

"UBC may give in to the demands of violent extremists, but the Justice Centre will not. As demonstrated in the past six weeks in the U.S., Antifa are more than capable of carrying out mass campaigns of violence against institutions and the state. It is imperative now more than ever to stand up to extremists whose stated goal is revolution by any means necessary," said Ngo.

Ngo also recently launched a lawsuit against Rose City Antifa and individuals involved in assaulting him last year.