Police in Brussels stormed the National Conservatism Conference (NatCon) just after it began on Tuesday, disallowing people from entering the venue. Members of Antifa also surrounded the venue.
Authorities have stated that they ordered the event to be shut down to "guarantee public safety" after leftists had allegedly threatened to protest it "violently."
One speaker at the event, Ralph Schöllhammer, told Human Events, “It is very frustrating that nobody within the Brussels media and political establishment can be found to defend a conference whose participants are trying to foster an open debate about the future of Europe and that includes elected MEPs. This is precisely what is meant by ‘defending democracy’ by the Left and their supporters in the legacy media: shut down any opinion that differs from their own.”
Antifa protesters gathered outside to confront attendees when they exited the building. The Post Millennial Senior Editor Andy Ngo obtained exclusive footage of the incident.
Senior Senate staff member Rachel Bovard provided live updates from the grounds of the conference online.
Mayor of the area of Brussels where the conference was held, Emir Kir, stated: "I issued an order from the mayor to ban the 'National Conservatism Conference' event to guarantee public safety.”
"In Etterbeek, Brussels City and Saint-Josse, the far-right is not welcome."
This will have been the third venue that NatCon would be kicked out of after Brussels mayors rejected the first two options.
Nigel Farage, ex-leader of the Brexit Party in the UK, gave the opening address, commending the owners of the venue that did allow NatCon to host its event, and reported that the owners were threatened for doing so.
"We give huge thanks to the Tunisian owner of this business for his courage and allowing free speech to take place...They've told this Tunisian owner, who believes in free speech, that if he carries on with this conference, they'll make sure he will go out of business," he said.
Also slated to speak were former UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban, per The Independent.
Farage likened the police action to the "old Soviet Union."
"At the meeting, over the next two days, you’ve got the prime minister of Hungary, you’ve got a bishop, you’ve got members of the European royal families coming, well-known international businessmen and women, politicians, leaders of parties that will win European elections in countries this year in June.
"And yet, because they are questioning ever-closer union, because they are questioning globalism, they are literally being shut down."
The conference stated online that they would be launching legal action against Kir's order.
“There is no public disturbance and no grounds to shut down a gathering of politicians, intellectuals, journalists, students, civic leaders, and concerned citizens," they said. "The police entered the venue on our invitation, saw the proceedings and the press corps, and quickly withdrew. Is it possible they witnessed how peaceful the event is?"
ADF International also announced they would be joining an "emergency legal challenge" against Brussels authorities.
The police also reportedly blocked lawyers for the host of the event, Edmund Burke Foundation, from entering the building, along with Members of the European Parliament.
Even the liberal Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo called the situation "unacceptable."
"What happened at the Claridge today is unacceptable. Municipal autonomy is a cornerstone of our democracy but can never overrule the Belgian constitution guaranteeing the freedom of speech and peaceful assembly since 1830. Banning political meetings is unconstitutional. Full stop," he posted to X.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
