The crusade against women who have opinions about video games continues unabated, reaching new heights of lunacy. Anita Sarkeesian, who runs Feminist Frequency’s Tropes vs Women in Video Games, was meant to be hosting a talk at the Utah State University, but has had to cancel the event due to violent threats made against her and those attending her talk.
One particular email was sent to USU staff in regards to the talk. “A number of personnel at Utah State University received an email regarding the scheduled presentation by Anita Sarkeesian tomorrow, October 15, 2014, at USU’s Taggart Student Center. The email contained threats to Sarkeesian and those who attend her presentation.”
That threat was, according to Sarkeesian, just one of several threats made against her and other feminists at the university.
Multiple specific threats made stating intent to kill me & feminists at USU. For the record one threat did claim affiliation with #gamergate
— Feminist Frequency (@femfreq) October 15, 2014
While the university promised “enhanced security measures” like not allowing attendees to bring in big bags or backpacks, incredibly, they were not able to ban guns. Just to clarify: you wouldn’t be allowed to bring a backpack, but you could bring a gun with you.
Unfortunately, this was out of the university’s hands, as Utah has open carry laws that allow people with permits to carry firearms. Apparently a threat to carry out a “massacre” was not enough to create an exception.
Sarkeesian says that she has not cancelled the event just because of the threats, but because the security measures weren’t good enough.
To be clear: I didn't cancel my USU talk because of terrorist threats, I canceled because I didn’t feel the security measures were adequate.
— Feminist Frequency (@femfreq) October 15, 2014
This horrible state of affairs hasn’t muted Sarkeesian, though, even if it has lead to the cancellation of the talk.
I’m safe. I will continue my work. I will continue speaking out. The whole game industry must stand up against the harassment of women.
— Feminist Frequency (@femfreq) October 15, 2014