Coulter speech canceled, safety cited

OTTAWA, March 23 (UPI) -- Organizers of a speech in Ottawa by right-wing pundit Ann Coulter canceled the event Tuesday, citing concern protests against Coulter might turn violent.

Coulter, a columnist and best-selling author known for provocative comments, was scheduled to speak at the University of Ottawa as part of a three-date tour in Canada, promoted by the International Free Press Society and the Clare Booth Luce Policy Institute, The (Toronto) Globe and Mail reported.

University officials had notified her that Canadian law provides criminal penalties for promoting hatred.

"I hereby encourage you to educate yourself, if need be, as to what is acceptable in Canada and to do so before your planned visit here," University of Ottawa Vice President Francois Houle said in a letter to Coulter.

Nathalie Des Rosiers, general counsel for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, criticized the university for warning Coulter about content, saying it "could be interpreted as an attempt to curtail speech."

"Regardless of how bigoted and terrible a speaker she is, she's entitled to freedom of expression and Canadians have a right to hear her views," Des Rosiers said.

Ezra Levant of the International Free Press Society told The Globe and Mail the episode revealed "the shortcomings in Canadian free speech."

A large crowd of protesters gathered outside the building where Coulter was to speak Tuesday and police eventually cleared the building after someone tripped a fire alarm, the newspaper said. There was no report of violence associated with the demonstration.