Controversial blogger Roosh V not welcome in Montreal, tweets Denis Coderre
CBC News | Posted: August 8, 2015 6:20 PM | Last Updated: August 8, 2015
U.S. blogger known for sexist views still in Montreal after venue cancellation
Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre says he denounces "unacceptable" anti-woman comments made by Roosh V, a controversial U.S. blogger who is scheduled to deliver a talk entitled "The State of Man" in Montreal on Saturday, and that he is not welcome in the city.
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Several dozen protesters demonstrated against the blogger, whose real name is Daryush Valizadeh, near the downtown campus of Concordia University on Saturday afternoon.
Roosh V has published material that suggests women with eating disorders are more desirable and that rape inside of a private home should be legal.
The Montreal talk and one in Toronto on Aug. 15 are the final dates of a six-city tour that is billed as a "discussion of the problems that Western men face today and how to solve them."
Coderre tweeted on Saturday that promoting "legal rape" does not fall within the kind of speech protected by the freedom of expression, and that there is a fine line between bad taste and hate propaganda. Coderre said Roosh V was not welcome in Montreal.
The blogger, for his part, said he would not be "intimidated by the mob" and that he would attempt to deliver his talk.
The venue for the talk has been changed but disclosed only to ticket holders. According to Roosh V's website, "due to the high risk of mob action by feminists and social justice warriors" venue locations are generally revealed only a day before the event on the ticket reservation page for the city in which the event is being held.
Tickets for the talks cost between $47 and $59 US.