‘Massacre’ threat forces Sarkeesian to abandon public speaking event

Tropes vs Women creator Anita Sarkeesian has been subject to another death threat, causing her to cancel a planned public speaking event.

Standard Examiner reports that she was due to talk at the Utah State University’s Center for Women and Gender later today until the organisers received an email threatening a "Montreal Massacre-style attack".

That is a reference to the 1989 college shooting at cole Polytechnique in Canada when Marc Lpine shot dead 14 female students after he was denied admission to the institution. He claimed he was upset that women were being taught to work in position he felt were traditionally occupied by men”.

In a letter to the Utah State university a person claiming to be a student said that feminists have ruined my life and I will have my revenge, for my sake and the sake of all the others they’ve wronged” and promised the deadliest school shooting in American history”.

The author also claimed to have "a semi-automatic rifle, multiple pistols, and a collection of pipe bombs".

Sarkeesian has confirmed that she took the decision to cancel the event owing to Utah’s gun laws, which allow for the carrying of concealed firearms – which led to the police refusing to vet attendees for weapons.

The university added: Sarkeesian was informed that, in accordance with the State of Utah law regarding the carrying of firearms, if a person has a valid concealed firearm permit and is carrying a weapon, they are permitted to have it at the venue.”

Sarkeesian revealed yesterday that when last weekend was the third time she had spoken at an event that had been subjected to a bomb threat, one of which was her GDC talk in March.

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

Requested pat downs or metal detectors after mass shooting threat but because of Utah's open carry laws police wouldn’t do firearm searches.

— Feminist Frequency (@femfreq) October 15, 2014

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

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