(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) A journalism conference in Virginia had several venues drop out after the local Antifa group threatened the institutions for hosting journalist Andy Ngo.
Despite the domestic terrorism group’s efforts, the event ultimately went on as scheduled at an undisclosed location.
I was with Andy Ngo this evening and the Antifa terrorists, who want to see him dead, failed to shut down this very important event that the Virginia Council hosted in Richmond.
We know who Antifa is and we are here to shut you all down.
People are finally waking up!#AndyNgo https://t.co/fT94zJY8K6
— Philip Hamilton (@HamiltonForVA) September 23, 2023
The Common Sense Society and The Virginia Council planned to host the “Virginia Forum,” featuring Ngo as their keynote speaker in Richmond’s Commonwealth Club, according to Fox News.
Ngo wrote extensively on the connections between Antifa activity in Portland, Oregon, and Richmond, Virginia—one of the many reasons the groups asked him to speak at the conference.
However, the Commonwealth Club faced doxxing and threats from Richmond Antifa leaders after the release of the conference agenda.
Officials at the club cited “the current political climate” as the reason for rejecting the event.
“After careful consideration and in light of the current political climate, the leadership of the Commonwealth Club have made the difficult decision to decline hosting the event,” the club said in an email to event organizers.
“This decision was not made lightly, but the safety and well-being of our guests and employees is our top priority, especially after recent social media posts by radical groups have targeted the event and the location,” it added.
Club officials apologized for the inconvenience to the organizers but said they preferred to keep their employees and guests safe from impending Antifa attacks.
CSS then planned to take their business to the Westin hotel, which also declined to host after social media pressure from Antifa.
Appearently the Richmond Westin Hotel is appearently The Antifa since they cancelled Andy Ngo. https://t.co/8bCw567hVI
— Goad Gatsby (@GoadGatsby) September 22, 2023
“Virginians—particularly Richmonders—desperately need to hear a message of hope as they endure Antifa’s vandalism, bullying, threats and general disregard for public safety,” the organizers said in a statement. “They need to see individuals and businesses courageously stand up for freedom of speech, the rule of law and the well-being of Virginians.”
John Reid, founding chairman of the Virginia Council, explained that the group faced threats like these before and plans to host the event despite the threats.
“The Virginia Council was founded in 2021 to preserve Virginia’s history and promote prosperity and the rule of law in the face of violence and destruction by groups like Antifa, he said. “We were not intimidated in 2021, and we will not be intimidated now. Good things are worth standing up for.”
