Ann Coulter to give talk at CU sponsored by Turning Point USA

Ann Coulter, a conservative social and political commentator, will speak on campus March 21 at the invitation of Turning Point USA at CU Boulder, a conservative action group on campus.

This is not Coulter’s first visit to the university, as she was previously invited by the Cultural Events Board in 2003. Coulter is a legal correspondent for Human Events, a syndicated columnist for Universal Press Syndicate and a New York Times best-selling author.

Coulter is known for her outspoken stances on immigration, race and cultural issues. Many of her speeches often incite protests at her college appearances. Last spring the CU chapter of Turning Point USA invited Milo Yiannopoulos to campus, which led to protests and several arrests.

Coulter has made inflammatory comments about many minority communities, including calling Islam a “car-burning cult” in a speech at George Washington University in 2006.

Heraa Hashmi, President of CU’s Muslim Student Association, is “saddened” by Coulter’s invitation to campus. However, she said that “we do believe in free speech” and does not think the event should be canceled, as some had called for when Milo Yiannopoulos was invited last year. Instead, she invited members of Turning Point USA to MSA’s meetings.

“While she does have a right to speak here, we also have a right to protest her hate speech,” said Victoria Dadet, co-president of the Black Student Alliance at CU, echoing Hashmi’s message on Coulter’s right to speak but displeasure with her appearance at CU.

Turning Point USA at CU Boulder could not immediately be reached for comment.

Conservative and pro-Trump speakers have faced difficulties speaking on campuses recently as political tensions rise.

The free tickets will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Ticket reservation will be online only, and the link will be available next week on TPUSA at CU Boulder’s social media accounts. The event takes place in CHEM 140, and the doors are scheduled to open at 6:30 p.m.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Contact CU Independent General News Editor Bri Barnum at brittany.barnum@colorado.edu 

Managing Editor Jackson Barnett contributed reporting to this article.