The drama at California State University-Los Angeles over a Ben Shapiro event continues. Three months after Shapiro spoke at CSULA, President William Covino held a “healing space” about the event, which YAF obtained footage from. To those in attendance, “healing” means finding ways to ensure conservative speakers like Shapiro are not allowed a platform on campus.
Convino assured students in attendance that he “would never” invite Shapiro, emphasizing “never” no less than three times.
Professor Melina Abdullah raised a concern of “anti-blackness,” which she saw represented by Shapiro, and thus justified calling him a “Neo-Nazi.” Abdullah acknowledged that Shapiro is Jewish and admitted “that’s ironic,” but did mention “that’s basically the equivalent of what he is,” before changing her phrase to “Neo-KKK member.”
With great emotion, Abdullah claimed she hears “students coming into my office and feeling traumatized… feeling brutalized, physically, emotionally and mentally,” though it was not clear how those against Shapiro were the ones being physically “brutalized.”
Abdullah previously involved herself in controversy surrounding the event by asking “what are we gonna do y’all?!?!”
At the “healing space,” Covino also spoke of “a process, a policy, or set of criteria” to keep speakers like Shapiro away from campus if it doesn’t meet certain qualifications.
An unidentified student asked if YAF would be allowed to hold future events. Covino responded with “that’s the question that’s on my mind, it really is,” about what would happen next event, mentioning that a next time would occur “very tragically and unfortunately.”
Shapiro was invited in January to speak at CSULA in February, though many students, professors, and the university president did nothing but make the event impossible. Covino canceled the event just days prior because it “lacked diversity” would be “best for our campus community” to do so.
While the event did take place, protesters blocked the event and threatened the safety of the attendees and Shapiro, who had to be escorted out by police. If anyone was, these students were responsible for making others feel physically brutalized.
Covino, professors, and administrators are currently facing a lawsuit against them from YAF and Shapiro.
YAF posted highlights of the “healing space,” as well as the full event.
