An event hosted by a Berkeley, CA radio station featuring well-known evolutionary biologist and outspoken atheist scholar, Richard Dawkins, recently was cancelled after the station officials discovered several of Dawkins’ tweets critical of Islam. The radio station, KPFA, sent this statement to people who had purchased tickets to the event:
Dear Richard Dawkins event ticket buyers,
We regret to inform you that KPFA has canceled our event with Richard Dawkins. We had booked this event based entirely on his excellent new book on science, when we didn’t know he had offended and hurt—in his tweets and other comments on Islam, so many people.
KPFA does not endorse hurtful speech. While KPFA emphatically supports serious free speech, we do not support abusive speech. We apologize for not having had broader knowledge of Dawkins views much earlier. We also apologize to all those inconvenienced by this cancellation. Your ticket purchases will automatically be refunded by Brown Paper Tickets.
Sincerely,
KPFA Radio 94.1 FM
Of course a private company has a right to refuse to associate with whomever it chooses, but KPFA’s rationale for canceling Dawkins’s speech is illogical and immoral. . . .