[UPDATE]: Anita Sarkeesian has decided to decline the opportunity to speak at Utah State University citing safety concerns, as Utah state laws allow those who have a permit to carry a concealed firearm to do so. In a series of Tweets she reminds the whole game industry to stand up against the harassment of women:
Forced to cancel my talk at USU after receiving death threats because police wouldn’t take steps to prevent concealed firearms at the event.
— Feminist Frequency (@femfreq) October 15, 2014
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
At this point supporting #gamergate is implicitly supporting the harassment of women in the gaming industry.
— Feminist Frequency (@femfreq) October 15, 2014
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
You can see the original story below the cut:
Utah State University will go ahead with plans for a talk by Anita Sarkeesian after receiving an anonymous threat from an individual promising “a Montreal Massacre style attack” (referring to a horrific incident in 1989 when a lone gunman shot almost thirty female students in a Montreal University) against those in attendance, students, staff and the women’s center if the talk wasn’t cancelled. Law enforcement agencies have deemed it safe for her to give the talk, stating that these kinds of threats were “not out of the norm (for this woman).” The FBI is currently investigating a bomb threat sent out against Sarkeesian in March at the Game Developers Choice Awards.
“Feminists have ruined my life and I will have my revenge, for my sake and the sake of all the others they’ve wronged,“ writes the anonymous e-mailer. “I have at my disposal a semi-automatic rifle, multiple pistols, and a collection of pipe bombs. [I am] giving (USU) a chance to stop it.”
The e-mailer continues to ramp up the threats, claiming that feminists on campus will not be able to defend themselves.
“One way or another, I’m going to make sure they die,” the e-mail said.
The e-mailer claims they are targeting Sarkeesian as she represents “everything wrong with the feminist woman,” adding that “she is going to die screaming like the craven little whore that she is if you let her come to USU. I will write my manifesto in her spilled blood, and you will all bear witness to what feminist lies and poison have done to the men of America.”
Although the university is allowing the event, they are taking extra precautions, “including having extra security at the event, and not allowing large bags or backpacks inside.”
Source: Standard Examiner
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