california

President Trump questions UC Berkeley funding after protest

Thursday, February 2, 2017

In this Jan. 13, 2017 file photo, President-elect Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump is questioning whether the University of California at Berkeley should be granted federal funding. Trump urges the school to honor free speech.

RELATED: Violent protests erupt in Berkeley canceling Yiannopulos event

Protesters hurled smoke bombs, broke windows and started a bonfire prompting university officials to cancel a talk Wednesday by Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos out of safety concerns.

Trump tweeted Thursday, "If U.C. Berkeley does not allow free speech and practices violence on innocent people with a different point of view - NO FEDERAL FUNDS?"



Berkeley cancelled Yiannopoulos' appearance after a crowd of some 1,500 gathered outside the venue.

The 32-year-old right-wing provocateur is a vocal Trump supporter and a self-proclaimed internet troll whose comments have been criticized as racist, misogynist, anti-Muslim and white supremacist.

PHOTOS: Protests erupt at UC Berkeley Milo Yiannopoulos event
Broken glass litters the ground of the Martin Luther King Student Union at U.C. Berkeley on Feb. 2, 2017.none
A police officer in riot gear stands in the Martin Luther King Student Union at U.C. Berkeley during a violent protest on Feb. 2. 2017.none
Protesters gather on the UC Berkeley campus after the cancelation of Milo Yianoppoulos' event on Feb. 2, 2017.AP
Protesters gather on the UC Berkeley campus after the cancelation of Milo Yianoppoulos' event on Feb. 2, 2017.AP
Protesters gather on the UC Berkeley campus after the cancelation of Milo Yianoppoulos' event on Feb. 2, 2017.AP
Protesters gather on the UC Berkeley campus after the cancelation of Milo Yianoppoulos' event on Feb. 2, 2017.AP
Protests erupt on UC Berkeley campus ahead of Milo Yiannopoulos event, in Berkeley, California. Wednesday, February 1, 2017KGO
Protesters gather on the UC Berkeley campus after the cancelation of Milo Yianoppoulos' event on Feb. 2, 2017.none
Protests erupt on UC Berkeley campus ahead of Milo Yiannopoulos event, in Berkeley, California. Wednesday, February 1, 2017KGO
Protests erupt on UC Berkeley campus ahead of Milo Yiannopoulos event, in Berkeley, California. Wednesday, February 1, 2017KGO
Protesters gather on the UC Berkeley campus after the cancelation of Milo Yianoppoulos' event on Feb. 2, 2017.none
Protests erupt on UC Berkeley campus ahead of Milo Yiannopoulos event, in Berkeley, California. Wednesday, February 1, 2017KGO
Protests erupt on UC Berkeley campus ahead of Milo Yiannopoulos event, in Berkeley, California. Wednesday, February 1, 2017KGO
Protests erupt on UC Berkeley campus ahead of Milo Yiannopoulos event, in Berkeley, California. Wednesday, February 1, 2017KGO
Protests erupt on UC Berkeley campus ahead of Milo Yiannopoulos event, in Berkeley, California. Wednesday, February 1, 2017KGO


VIDEO: Trump supporter pepper sprayed at Milo protest

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