NatCon Cancellation Attempt Shows Rising Threat to Free Speech in Europe

‘Don’t vacate the premises. Make them throw you out,’ ADF International’s Jean-Paul Van De Walle said. ‘Make them show what they’re capable of doing.’

Belgian police seal off the entrance to the venue, not allowing anyone to enter on Day 1 of The National Conservatism Conference at the Claridge in Brussels on April 16, 2024. Omar Havana/Getty Images

News Analysis

The failed attempt to shut down the National Conservatism conference in Brussels, the nerve center of the European Union (EU), made headlines around the world. But it isn’t an isolated incident in Europe, and it’s a worrying sign for Americans even as the First Amendment remains in place—for now.