The president of Pennsylvania State University on Tuesday announced that prominent white nationalist Richard Spencer “is not welcome to speak” on the college’s campus.
University president Eric J. Barron said in a statement that the college “evaluated a request” for Spencer to speak on campus in the fall and “determined that Mr. Spencer is not welcome.”
“The First Amendment does not require our University to risk imminent violence,” Barron said. “After critical assessment by campus police, in consultation with state and federal law enforcement officials, we have determined that Mr. Spencer is not welcome on our campus, as this event at this time presents a major security risk to students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus.”
Barron said he disagrees “profoundly with the content that has been presented publicly about this speaker’s views which are abhorrent and contradictory to our University’s values.”
“There is no place for hatred, bigotry or racism in our society and on our campuses,” he said. “It is the likelihood of disruption and violence, not the content, however odious, that drives our decision.”
Penn State director of news and media relations Lisa Powers told the Daily Collegian, the university’s student-operated newspaper, that the school received the request from “an individual who claims to be a student at Georgia State University, and an acolyte to Richard Spencer.”
“We’ve received no request from Spencer himself or any organization associated with him,” Powers told the Daily Collegian.
In response to violence that erupted on August 12 at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, Texas A&M University canceled a September rally where Spencer was scheduled to speak.
The colleges are among a wide swath of corporations, universities and localities pushing back against white nationalist groups in the aftermath of the rally.
Pushing back on hate speech that incites violence and bigotry, as well as banning public gatherings of Nazis, KKK members, and white supremacists who seek to cause mayhem is NOT a violation of the First Amendment. Every American has the right to peaceful assembly. But, as a product of the 60’s who well remembers the demonstrations of my youth, I don’t recall anyone on either side wearing helmets and carrying shields, knives, and loaded weapons. I defend the actions of Penn State.
In contrast, Trump University is re-establishing to offer post-graduate degrees in White Fascism…
Professor Richard Spencer will be the dean.
I’m quite certain that a few individuals on the TPM boards will disagree with you ad nauseam.
In my experience, many of those that treat free speech as a holy writ, have never been–in person–the target of the vilest hate speech. It’s all academic to them.
I understand that the planning session will be at Camp David. Professor Spencer will be flying up there with Il Duce after Spencer spends a night in the Lincoln Bedroom.
What a pity: Penn State is just a short Marine One helicopter ride from Camp David. I’m sure Il Duce would’ve been happy to give him a lift.
Obama’s fault…
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