UPDATE 11:00 p.m.:
Valizadeh has formally announced the cancellation of the meetups planned writing: "I 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. While I can't stop men who want to continue meeting in private groups, there will be no official Return Of Kings meetups. The listing page has been scrubbed of all locations. I apologize to all the supporters who are let down by my decision."
See original story below.
Meninists, Men's Rights Activists, or the less commonly called Trash Men, who ponder why there isn't a Men's History Month, are getting together this weekend all across the world. Led by Daryush "Roosh" Valizadeh, some dude who runs a website called “Return of Kings” and who wrote about legalizing rape (which he says was "satire") is hosting the 165 meetups in 43 countries. The worldwide event has spawned outrage and planned counter protests against Valizadeh who’s a feminist-hating, misogynist "pick-up artist."
The meetups are a part of "International Tribal Meetup Day" which will go down this Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. in U.S. and international locations. ROK readers and other heterosexual men are welcome. Gay men, transgender men, and women, have been specifically banned from the meetings.
Valizadeh,who responded to backlash of the event by explaining his "How to Stop Rape" post was just a joke, wrote on the ROK site: "The world is moving against us. I’ve gotten reports of over a dozen organized protests at our meeting points. Dozens more are being organized privately. Since this meetup was never intended as a confrontation with unattractive women and their enablers, I’m moving to save as many of these meetups as I can before Saturday so that men can still meet in private away from a loud, obnoxious, dishonest, and potentially violent mob."
Attendees were instructed to ask, "Do you know where I can find a pet shop?" in order to find fellow members who would respond "Yes it's right here."
So far the mayors in Canada, Australia, and the U.K. (all places where meet ups are planned) have spoken against Valizadeh the Washington Times reports. Petitions have been created to ban him from traveling with a U.K. petition getting over 50,000 signatures.
Australia's Immigration Minister Peter Dutton responded to the controversy Tuesday, saying “People who advocate violence against women are not welcome” in the country.
Valizadeh has not taken kindly to the backlash—to say the least—instructing followers to collect the information of journalists writing disparaging articles about him, which he justified by saying the information is publicly available.
So if you’re in the area of any of these U.S. places listed below and happen to see some men, they’re probably of the trash kind.
Alabama
Birmingham – In front of Ohenry’s coffee shop, downtown Homewood (not the Brookwood Mall Ohenry’s)
Alaska
Anchorage – Elderberry Park, near the Oscar Anderson House, a museum. Meet by the chairs and table. Address: 1297 West Fifth Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99501.
Arizona
Phoenix – Meet in front of main entrance of tallest building of Phoenix Plaza (Qwest Tower).
Tucson – Arizona Historical Society (949 E 2nd St, Tucson, AZ 85719). Meet at statue near corner of N Park Ave and E 2nd St. Image.
Arkansas
Little Rock – First Security Amphitheater , 400 President Clinton Ave, Little Rock, AR 72201. Image.
California
Long Beach – Parking lot of Glory Days Sports Bar, Carson Blvd and Woodruff Ave.
Los Angeles – L.A. Live in front of Starbucks entrance. Address: 800 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Newport Beach – The outdoor fountain directly in front of Macy’s department store at Fashion Island. Image.
Orange County – The fountain in front of the Ferris wheel at the Irvine Spectrum Mall.
Palm Springs – Fountain at Mercado Plaza (Palm Canyon Drive)
Redwood City – Parking lot of IHOP. Address: 491 Veterans Blvd, Redwood City, CA 94063
Roseville – Royer Park (the large park on Douglas Blvd), next to the gatling gun statue.Image.
San Diego – Corner of 16th & Broadway, in parking lot of the Goodwill
San Diego (North) – The Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch. Meet in front of The Baked Bear Shop.
San Francisco – Balboa Park Bart station, by the arched exit. Image.
San Leandro – Northwest corner of the intersection of E. 14th St. and Estudillo Av. Meet at the public fountain.
Santa Barbara – Steps of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, located on the corner of State Street and Anapamu Street in downtown Santa Barbara
Sherman Oaks – Sherman Oaks Galleria, between the fountain and Cheesecake Factory entrance. Image. Address: 15301 Ventura Blvd.
Colorado
Boulder – North Boulder Park, beside the shelter. Image.
Denver – 19th Ave and Gilpin Street, on the south side of Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center. Image.
Connecticut
New Haven – World War I Memorial, beside flagpole
Stamford – In the little square on the corner of Franklin St and Broad St. Image.
Florida
Orlando – The Red Chinese Tang pavilion at Lake Eola, beside red pagoda.
Tampa – Curtis Hixon Park, between fountains and grass. Image.
West Palm Beach – Clematis Street Fountains, on the side of North Clematis street
Georgia
Athens – The Arch at the University of Georgia
Atlanta – Piedmont Park, corner of 10th street and Charles Allen Dr by the sign.Image.
Hawaii
Honolulu – Pearl Ridge Downtown, underneath globe sign. Image. Address: 98 – 1005 Moanalua Rd, Aiea, HI 96701
Idaho
Boise – Idaho State Capital Building, 700 W Jefferson St, Boise, ID 83702. Met by the statue of Abraham Lincoln.
Illinois
Chicago – Rogers Park, beside the flagpole. Image. Google Map.
Chicago (Homewood) – Parking lot of Balagio’s. Address: 17501 Dixie Hwy, Hazel Crest, IL 60430.
Iowa
Cedar Rapids – In Sokol Park beside the gazebo. 16th Ave SW
Des Moines – Parking lot of the VA Hospital beside pictured tree. Image. Address: 3600 30th St. Des Moines, IA. 50310
Louisiana
New Orleans – Magazine Street and Lawrence Square, besides the big tree, across the street from 4318 Magazine Street. Image.
Maine
Bangor – Bangor Public Library, in front of main entrance below the stairs (145 Harlow St)
Maryland
Annapolis – Downtown/Historic Annapolis Harbor, Main Street, by the Kunte Kinte memorial statue. Image.
Baltimore – In front of Cross Street Market entrance in Federal Hill
Massachusetts
Boston (North End) – Paul Revere Statue in Paul Revere Mall
Michigan
Ann-Arbor – Nickel’s Arcade in downtown Ann Arbor. Meet at the center column near the entrance off State Street.
Lansing – Lansing River Trail, top of the fish ladder steps. Image.
Macomb County/Clinton Township – The Mall at Partridge Creek. Meet in front of the fountain between Brio Tuscan Grille and P.F. Chang’s. Address: 17420 Hall Rd, Charter Twp of Clinton, MI 48038
Rochester Hills – Elizabeth Park, beside center bush. Image.
Minnesota
Duluth – Leif Erickson Park by the stage. Address: 12th Ave E & London Road, Duluth, MN 55802
Missouri
Kansas City – North side of the World War 1 Museum, on sidewalk directly above monument. Image.
Nevada
Las Vegas – Beside Vegas Vic neon sign on the old strip.
New Hampshire
Portsmouth – In front of main entrance of The North Church. 2 Congress St, Portsmouth, NH 03801
New Jersey
Atlantic City – On the Boardwalk in front of main Taj Mahal entrance
Hoboken – In front of Mulligans Pub underneath the canopy. Address: 159 1st St.
New Mexico
Albuquerque – East side of University Of New Mexico Bookstore. Address: 2301 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106. Image.
New York
New York – St. Catherine’s Park, next to the spiral kids slide. 1245 1st Ave between 67th and 68th st
New York – Washington Square Park under the arch
Rochester – Eastman School of Music, Kilbourn Hall (26 Gibbs St, Rochester, NY 14604), Meet at intersection at Gibbs and Main, where the concert hall entrance is.Image.
Syracuse – Columbus Circle, next to the statue. Address: East Onondaga Street, Syracuse, NY 13202
North Carolina
Charlotte – Romare Bearden Park. Meet by the benches behind the gazebo-like structure on the corner of W Martin Luther King and Church St. Image.
Wilmington – Riverfront Park, across the river from USS North Carolina, beside map kiosk. Image.
Ohio
Cincinnati – I-75 and Sharon road has a large parking lot with a grass field next to a Speedway Gas Station. Meet on the grass.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City – In front of Harkins Theater at 150 E Reno Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104. Image.
Pennsylvania
Harrisburg – Steps of Capitol on the west side. Image.
Philadelphia – Washington Square Park, between 5th and 6th St right off Walnut Street (it is the size of a city block). Meet specifically by the memorial to the Revolutionary War Soldiers eternal flame.
South Carolina
Anderson – The Carolina Wren Park located downtown at 111 E. Whitner St. 29621 in the Pavilion. Meet beside the fountain.
Camden – King Haigler Tower, main entrance. Image. Address: 950 Broad Street, Camden SC 29020
Tennessee
Chattanooga – In front of Dollar General. Image. Address: 5952 E. Brainerd Road
Mount Juliet – Parking lot in front of entrance to Big Star Cigar Lounge. Address: 3384 N Mt. Juliet Road, Suite 1100, Mount Juliet, TN 37122
Nashsville (North) – In front of Baileys in Rivergate Plaza Shopping Mall
Texas
Austin – Palm Park by the stone structure. Image. Address: 711 East 3rd Street, Austin, TX 78701
Dallas – Meet at the old school phone booth In front of British Beverage Company (BBC). Address:
2800 Routh St, Dallas, TX 75201″
Denton – Denton Square, beside the little arch. Image. Address: 110 W Hickory St, Denton, TX 76201.
El Paso – 301 W Missouri Ave, El Paso, TX 79901. Meet on corner next to statue of man. Image.
Houston – Near the arch of the Sam Houston Monument, adjacent to Houston Museum of Natural Science (5555 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030)
Nederland – By the gazebo in Doornbos Park AKA “Duck Park”. Address: S 24th 1/2 St, Nederland, TX 77627
San Antonio – In front of main door of the Alamo
Utah
Provo – Provo City Center Temple on the corner of University Avenue and Center Street. Meet at circle pathway in front of main entrance.
Salt Lake City – Salt Lake City Library, at the top of the amphitheater. Address: 210 E 400 S. Image.
Virginia
Charlottesville – Lee Park, beside the statue of Lee
Virginia Beach – Mt. Trashmore, at bottom of stairs. Image. Address: 310 Edwin Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Washington
Everett – Clark Park, next to the gazebo. Address: 2400 Lombard Avenue, Everett, WA 98201.
Seattle – In front of main entrance of Seattle Public Library. 1000 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104.
Seattle (North) – Statue of Lenin. Address: Corner of Fremont PI N and N 36th St.Image.
Washington D.C.
Dupont Circle, on the north side by the Starbucks. Image.
Wisconsin
Kenosha – In front of Brat Stop. Address: 12304 75th St. Kenosha, WI 53142.
La Crosse – The large water fountain at Riverside Park.
