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‘Pro-rape’ meetups canceled after public backlash

Posted at 10:45 AM, Feb 04, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-04 10:46:37-05

FOX 13/FOX 17 — A group calling themselves “Return of Kings” that has come under fire for a message that some say advocates for rape, has canceled a series of meetings scheduled around the nation after public backlash.

In an announcement posted on their website, the group stated that they are cancelling meetings scheduled for various locations on February 6.

A previous post had mentioned meetups in Michigan in Lansing, Ann Arbor, Rochester Hills and Clinton Township.

The post says that they “can no longer guarantee the safety or privacy of the men who want to attend on February 6, especially since most of the meetups can not be made private in time.”  The listing page has been scrubbed of all locations.

The group was the target of intense online criticism for what some call a message that promotes rape culture and sexual violence. Several groups had planned counter-demonstrations and rallies at the listed sites, including sites in Utah and Chicago.

Snopes.com had also weighed in on the legitimacy of the meetings.

FOX 13 in Salt Lake Cityattempted to reach out to the group for comment on this story as well as every other person listed as a staff member for the blog, however the group’s website states they only accept emails from women if they include photos of themselves, a condition FOX 13 would not meet.