By Selene San Felice
The misogynist “men’s rights activist” organization, Return of Kings, will hold a meeting in Tampa that will start with a gathering at Curtis Hixon Park on Saturday, Feb. 6 between 8 p.m. and 8:20 p.m. Due to the proximity of the meeting to campus, students should be aware that a large gathering of pro-rape extremists will be in the area.
The organization’s leader, Daryush “Roosh” Valizadeh, has written articles expressing his desire to “make rape legal if done on private property.” The Return of Kings site contains numerous pro-rape and anti-feminist articles,including “‘Rape Culture’ Was Manufactured To Wage An Unjust War Against Men,” “Women Should Not Be Allowed To Vote,” and “The Intellectual Inferiority Of Women.”
Valizadeh has also written several “bang books” and articles which instruct his followers on how to pick up women, especially American foreigners traveling overseas. In Bang Iceland, Valizadeh also details his alleged sexual assaults of women who were too drunk to consent or asleep.
There will also be meet-ups in Orlando and West Palm beach along with 162 others in cities around the US and 42 other countries all taking place simultaneously at 8 p.m. on Saturday.
According to the group’s website, members are instructed, “to identify your fellow tribesmen, ask the following question to a man you suspect is there for the meetup: “Do you know where I can find a pet shop?” If you are asked this question, answer in the affirmative: “Yes, it’s right here.” The meeting will then move to an undisclosed location.
A moderator of the website, Donovan Sharpe, commented on the event listing, “Gentlemen, we could be at the ground floor of something that is going to change the world. I use hyperbole sparingly but this may very well be a watershed moment in World History.”
UPDATE (Feb. 3, 11:15 a.m.): Tampa Police Department is aware of the meeting and have stated, “We have no information that this group is doing anything more than holding a meeting. While offensive to most, we live in a country where people can have views that others don’t agree with. As long as there is no illegal activity in acting out those views, they are entitled and can voice those views. We are aware of it and doing what is needed to ensure public safety.”
UPDATE (Feb. 3, 12:30 p.m.): Dr. Linda W. Devine, Vice President for Operations and Planning for UT has stated that the school and Campus Safety are aware of the meeting and are in touch with the Tampa Police Department.
“The safety and well-being of our campus community is our highest priority,” Dr. Devine said. “At this point we have not broadly notified students. We are still assessing the situation and are unaware of any specific threat to campus or our students. From the little we know about this organization, it does not share our values as an institution. If any students plan to protest the organization, we will advise them to stay clear of the Curtis Hixon Park.”
UPDATE (Feb. 3, 3:54 p.m.): Tampa mayor Bob Buckhorn released a statement on the meeting saying, “As a father of two girls and a Mayor of a city that has no room for this vile rhetoric, I’m disgusted that a group such as Return of Kings would congregate in Curtis Hixon. Their twisted logic and violent and vulgar behavior has no place in this world, let alone Tampa.”
A protest led by UT students is scheduled to begin at 6:45 in Vaughn Lobby on Saturday night and will move to Curtis Hixon at the time of the meeting.
UPDATE (Feb. 3, 8:18 p.m.): According to the Return of the Kings Website and Valizadeh’s twitter account the meetup has been canceled worldwide.
Selene San Felice can be reached at selene.sanfelice@theminaretonline.com.
But if the feminists wanted to host their own ridiculous rally where they stomp their feet and cry out for attention that would be OK? Feminist like to play the victim and throw down their “equal rights card” if someone doesn’t thank them for breathing. Why don’t you sit down and shut up for once. Maybe if you so called “strong women” kept your mouths shut some men might actually respect you. Until then….you are and always will be just a set of holes with a pair of tits for every man to look at.
But if the feminists wanted to host their own ridiculous rally where they stomp their feet and cry out for attention that would be OK? Feminist like to play the victim and throw down their “equal rights card” if someone doesn’t thank them for breathing. Why don’t you sit down and shut up for once. Maybe if you so called “strong women” kept your mouths shut some men might actually respect you. Until then….you are and always will be just a set of holes with a pair of tits for every man to look at.
Roosh V is not a Men’s Rights Activist, and Return of Kings is not a Men’s Rights Website, it is a PUA (pick up artist) website, and in fact MRA’s and PUA’s have been at loggerheads for years.
PUA’s try to teach gullible young men how to sell their souls to pick up women.
Men’s Rights Activists advocate that men NOT sell their souls, and to stand up for the issues that affect men and boys. Issues such as,
The blatant bias against men and their children in the Family Law System.
The domestic violence industry which systematically ignores male victims and female perpetrators by incorrectly labeling DV a “gendered” issue against all the facts and stats that prove otherwise.
The massive problem of suicide among men, largely caused by the above two points.
The rights of baby boys to be legally free from Male Genital Mutilation (MGM or circumcision).
It is an old feminist trick to conflate PUA’s with MRA’s in order to paint MRA’s in a poor light.
Just as they conflate feminism with women to try to paint any critisism of the bigotted ideology of feminism, as an attack on women.
How?
Their speech disrespects billions of rape survivors. So the rape survivors and anti-rape citizens are also allowed to disrespect these close minded rapists.
1st amendment is dead when it incites violence, dumbass.
Waooooo! I can’t believe that such coward group calling themselves Return of the Kings are allowed to have a such of disgusting metting in our city? How much longer we can take the Second Amendment as Granted to do waterver we want! WAKE UP AMERICA! DON’t let this sick people hurt our woman’s and girls! And, for all of people who are agreed with this sick idea of legalizing rape in private property! Let some one to tape you first, that way you will live in your own skin of what woman’s victims of rape gone through! GOD BLESS AMERICA!
I just want to leave a message to say a man should never force himself ever on a woman. its her body. its a possibility that due to the sexual abuse I suffered as a child an the rape as a college student this is most likely the reason I can not have children now. I kept hidden for years about the sexual abuse I suffered as a child because I was ashamed and embarrassed. it was such a horrible experience starting at such a young age I blocked most of it out till I was away in college and that when I started having flash backs and I was so lucky to have a wonderful roommate and best friend my freshman year. after coming to terms with what happen and forgiving those that hurt me and telling them so that I could forgive but never forget I blossomed as a woman I am today. I freely share what happen in order to possibly help others. if my grammar and punctuation is off now I apologize I did suffer an acquired brain injury about a year and half ago from a client I was providing care for.
im so glad that they canceled their event!
As an MRA and simple a compassionate person Return of Kings is not a Men’s Rights Originization and in fact has mocked and insulted Men’s Rights Activists on several occasions, and has publicly said he’s not an MRA. Please do not describe him as such in the future, its not fair to those of us to keep being smeared for his disgusting actions. I oppose rape and do not wish to see it legalized or do I find his stunt funny or witty and mean spirited and ignorant.
Freedom of speech is one thing. Freedom of some fucking assholes penis going inside an innocent woman’s vagina is another! DUH!
He cancelled the meetings!! a recent tweet indicated this! Still, watch out!
https://twitter.com/ReturnOfKings/status/695043608785760256
RooshV is a Pickup Artist (PUA), not a Men’s Right’s Advocate (MRA). It would take a moment to google his articles on how “cuckolded MRA’s are” and how dead their movement is.”
He’s an idiot, and a provocateur taking advantage of a broken system.
If you don’t like what he says, the solution is to advocate to fix the issues in the system that permit him to operate as a pickup artist, rather than trying to quash his ability to speak.
To the person that believes that “men get away with things, because Patriarchy”? If you believe that, then you missed the part where men are the majority of the homeless, the majority of people paying child support (and jailed for any default in payment., the majority of workplace injuries and deaths, and equally victims of domestic violence.
If we REALLY lived in a patriarchy, why would men be disadvantaged in ANY way, whatsoever?
Sincerely, an egalitarian that took 5 minutes to use google to research a clown that thinks that sexual conquest is validation.
You’re right that they do. Statistics show that domestic violence occurs at higher frequencies in law enforcement households. A quick Google search will confirm that for you. It’s a known issue but little can be done about it since obviously you can’t try to contact law enforcement to protect those women and children. It’s also a known issue that colleagues look out for each other and cover up
I have watched videos of RooshV in the past and have read some of his articles. He is ONE element of the Men’s Rights Movement. He is NOT about RAPE. RooshV is a PUA (Pickup Artist). He writes and sells books informing men on his “pickup techniques”. The story on http://theminaretonline.com/ is mischaracterizing RooshV as being pro-rape. ANYONE can watch his videos and decide for themselves if he is pro-rape. After doing about 10 minutes of “Googling” I found the following info describing the purpose of the meetings.
International Tribal Meeting On February 6, 2016
https://youtu.be/inagKvZtxkI
http://www.returnofkings.com/76838/international-rok-meetup-day-february-6-2016
“I advise tribes to meet at least twice a month on a regular schedule over coffee or drinks (e.g. every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at 8pm). The atmosphere will be relaxed and you’ll be able to talk about women, politics, travel, work, or whatever else interests you. During times of crisis, however, when members are threatened due to the actions of outsiders or their own government, the tribe will be utilized to offer concrete support and defense. Hopefully that day will never come, but odds are it will, and you need to establish relationships with men you trust before a threat arrives.”
I advise tribes to meet at least twice a month on a regular schedule over coffee or drinks (e.g. every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at 8pm). The atmosphere will be relaxed and you’ll be able to talk about women, politics, travel, work, or whatever else interests you. During times of crisis, however, when members are threatened due to the actions of outsiders or their own government, the tribe will be utilized to offer concrete support and defense. Hopefully that day will never come, but odds are it will, and you need to establish relationships with men you trust before a threat arrives.
while disgusting you do realize freedom of speech is a thing right? dont paint all men like these people just because of your bad experiences with men
BAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA! This has got to be the greatest troll in history! First amendment, bitches! Hateful speech is PROTECTED SPEECH.
Best comment ever. You win the internet today!
Really let find out where they mother’s ,sister ,daughter’s live to show them what we can do to them. I personally hope never encounter a persons with this view it probably be his last day in earth.
If this a serious group the police should look into it.
Tire of all this Mother’s fuc## abusing womens and children.
Calling them a pro-rape organization is libelous at best,
Absolutely discusting!! these “men” need to be flown to an island and dropped off. let them rape each other!!
Well, if something happens to them during this “meeting”, they were probably asking fo it.
Policemen have wives and daughters. Stop the political correctness by our politicians. This group should be arrested for promoting illegal activities causing harm to our citizens. Let all your friends know of this disgusting meeting and we should all protest.
Just like when the woman holding up graphic anti-abortion signs at a kids event didn’t get arrested? You know because graphic imagies around minors blocking their view of a stage is all in her rights. Weird police department here. It’s destroying peace. Note this is happening right in front a children’s museum.
Of course the police department isn’t going to do anything about it. A bunch of men run it. Fuck this world.
Dear Tampa Police –
This rally is meant to incite criminal activity. Shut it down.