Penn State officials have canceled a controversial event scheduled for Monday night featuring Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes.
The event was scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Thomas Building on campus but due to “the threat of escalating violence” in response to the event, university police say they determined it necessary to cancel.
Police say demonstrations “regrettably turned violent.”
More than 40 members of the Proud Boys organization were charged in the January 6th riot at the capitol and McInnes has been accused of promoting violence and hate speech.
In the interest of the First Amendment and the freedom of speech, Penn State officials allowed the speaking event, which was hosted by the student organization Uncensored America, to go on, although officials discouraged students not to attend.
Penn state police say security measures were being beefed up to increase campus safety.