Michael Coren approached by Zimmerman after event

Jacqueline Perlin
Assistant news editor
TV personality Michael Coren’s guest lecture was held over a week ago on Keele Campus, but the controversy surrounding a confrontation between him and York student Jesse Zimmerman continues.
Coren came to speak to York students on Keele Campus March 10 concerning peace talks in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Middle East.

While Zimmerman interrupted Coren during the event asking to debate him one-on-one, the confrontation allegedly continued after the event.
According to a Facebook post made by Coren the day after the lecture session,  Zimmerman waited for him outside following his event, and then followed him for ten minutes.
“[Zimmerman] swore, abused, screamed, and tried to run at me several times,” the wall post said. “Only the gentle intervention of my good friend (who is a martial arts expert) prevented a physical attack.”
It also stated that the police have been informed.
Zimmerman responded by saying that the accusations were false.
While he admitted that he did approach Coren after the event, Zimmerman said that he merely asked Coren to debate him on his radio show as they walked from Central Square to the Student Centre.
“There’s one claim that for ten minutes I was supposedly following him […] Everyone at York knows it doesn’t take ten minutes from Central Square to the Student Centre,” he said. “I just said, ‘debate me on my show,’ and started questioning the things he said [during the lecture].”
Zimmerman said that he could not comment as to whether the authorities were involved in the issue.
York media relations spokesperson Wallace Pidgeon said that the issue is a police matter and that the university is not involved.
Excalibur attempted to reach Coren for comment, but as of publication was unable to receive a response.
With files from Yuni Kim