Hey everyone
I got to the room about 2 hours before the event started to ensure I got a seat since there was a 120 person capacity. As the event approached, more and more people started showing up to the point where you could barely move.
About 5 minutes before the entry time, 4 people started shouting to be let through because they needed to get their friend in a wheelchair a spot. Of course, people obliged. However, these 4 people turned out to be some of the loudest of the protesters (they can be seen in the Facebook livestream at the front of the room). Not really classy using their friend's disability like that, in my opinion, but whatever.
The seats were full and people were lined along the walls. When Peterson walked into the room, the protests started. First statement was: "why do you hate trans people." I say that was a statement because they obviously made their minds up and were not looking for an answer. That statement started a symphony of air horns, megaphones, cowbells, and shrieking voices. People were calling him a bigot, a transphobe, and a racist.
Before the livestream began, Peterson walked to the back of the room in an attempt to speak to some of the protesters but they wouldn't open dialogue. Any attempt made by me or other students to get them to be quiet, and reserve their opinions for the Q&A, were met with statements such as "we don't debate with bigots." Members of one of McMaster's many communist/Marxist/revolutionary groups stood at the back with a sign that said "FUCK YOU" with a hammer and sickle drawn between the the words. There was some shoving in the back but I don't think any outright fights broke out.
He attempted to talk through the noise but the event was "cancelled" when they deemed it a fire hazard. Peterson then told everyone to follow him outside for a discussion.
We formed a circle around him while he talked without a microphone for about 45 minutes, answering questions that students asked. During the talk, protesters continued to scream and generally make incoherent noises, chanting things like "danger" and "baby needs his safe space."