Global Courant
Multiple event venues in Virginia have canceled on the organizers of a journalism conference after pressure and threats from a local Antifa group.
The Common Sense Society and The Virginia Council were to host the inaugural “Virginia Forum” Sept. 22 featuring journalist and author Andy Ngo, who has reported extensively on uncovering connections between Antifa and the riots in Portland, Oregon, and Richmond, Virginia.
The event was first slated to take place at Richmond’s Commonwealth Club, an organization founded in 1890 that describes itself as a “vibrant city club with a diverse membership … including leaders in business, politics, education and society.”
“We understand the importance of this event to your group and the effort that has gone into planning it. However, we believe that it is our responsibility to prioritize the safety of everyone involved.”
The Common Sense Society (CSS) is a group that describes itself as exploring “ideas, cultures, and geography that have shaped our history in order to best contribute to a future that fosters human flourishing.”
According to CSS, the club shared a post on X from user @GoadGatsby, a writer at left-wing RVA Mag who “runs the Richmond Antifa and is sure to draw attention that we don’t want.”