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'Massacre' Threat Shut Down Video Game Critic Anita Sarkeesian Talk

A letter promising the "deadliest school shooting in American history" caused critic Anita Sarkeesian to cancel a talk at Utah State University.
Anita Sarkeesian
Anita SarkeesianAlex Lazara

Security concerns around a letter promising a violent shooting caused feminist pop culture critic Anita Sarkeesian to cancel a talk scheduled for Wednesday morning at Utah State University. Sarkeesian is known for her "Tropes vs. Women" series on YouTube, which focuses on sexism in video games. On Tuesday morning, a person identifying himself as a Utah State University student emailed several staff members saying that he would carry out a "Montreal Massacre-style attack" against Sarkeesian, students and staff using an arsenal consisting of "a semi-automatic rifle, multiple pistols, a collection of pipe bombs," according to a letter obtained by Utah's Standard-Examiner newspaper. He was referring to the 1989 massacre of 14 women by Marc Lépine, who fired rifle shots in the halls of Montreal's École Polytechnique while yelling anti-feminist messages. She later tweeted that she was "forced to cancel my talk at USU after receiving death threats because police wouldn't take steps to prevent concealed firearms at the event."

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