American University student protestors gather outside Amber Athey’s speaking event, which was hosted by the Young Americans for Liberty student organization.

WASHINGTON – American University students gathered outside an event space in the Mary Graydon Center Tuesday night in protest of a controversial right-wing speaker discussing the #MeToo movement.

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Amber Athey, is an editor at The Daily Caller, a right-wing media outlet. Athey was hosted by the Young Americans for Liberty student organization for an event titled “Your Due Process: #MeToo.”

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The protestors arrived wearing black tape over their mouths and holding various signs in support of sexual assault survivors.

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As the students attempted to enter the event, university officials limited their gathering to a designated area farther away from the event space. Protestors pressed to get closer, but university officials insisted the protest stay within the designated area.

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Eventually, the students began to chant “We believe survivors!” and “Whose school? Our school!” Minutes later, they marched up the stairs, away from the event.

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Protest leader Aminta Zea was disappointed in the university’s response. “It might not have gone the way we wanted to now, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to not re-strategize, it doesn’t mean we’re not going to go ahead and do something bigger, louder and bolder,” she said.

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Zea also said that the problem extends past campus. “This is a bigger issue than just being at a university. I know so many people, men, women and gender non-conforming bodies affected by misogyny and sexism, and affected by the same institutions that permit this type of violence to continue,” she said.

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Appearing on Fox News on Tuesday morning, Athey said the students were “pathetic.” She continued to say the safe spaces designated for triggered students are “so ridiculous.”

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Despite the backlash, the Young Americans for Liberty student organization remained positive for the event and drew a packed audience.

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Duncan Crim, a student in support of the event, lined up early to get in. “I wanted to come out and help support [Young Americans for Liberty]. Also, I think the talk is just going to be interesting,” he said.

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Crim is also a member of the student organization Young Americans for Freedom, which is bringing Dinesh D’Souza to campus in November.

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D’Souza is another controversial conservative speaker and the announcement of his event has also drawn backlash on campus.

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These events come at a time when the nation is debating the lines between free speech and hate speech, particularly on college campuses.

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Director of Strategic Communications Mark Story, from the university’s communications department, was present to direct media and press inquiries regarding this debate.

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Story said that the Young Americans for Liberty student organization met all university standards to host the event. “What we’re encouraging everyone to do is to benefit from what we talk about, for freedom of expression. … We have a responsibility to listen to others who we might not necessarily agree with,” he said.

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Story and other university officials remained on guard throughout the event and brought in multiple university police officers to keep the peace and protect students on both sides of the event.

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