‘Alt-Right’ White Nationalist Richard Spencer To Speak At Alabama University
Image by Getty Images
By Sam Kestenbaum April 12, 2017
“Alt-right” figurehead and white nationalist Richard Spencer plans to speak at Auburn University in Alabama next week.
In an online announcement, Spencer said that he will be speaking about President Trump, Syria and the “alt-right.”
“If this event is anything like my other ones, it is going to be wild. So, I hope to see you there,” Spencer said.
Auburn issued a statement Wednesday afternoon saying that while they “deplore his views,” the school supports the constitutional right to free speech, The administration encourages the school to respond to objectionable speech with “respect and inclusion.” Spencer is paying to use the space, said Auburn University spokesman Mike Clardy.
In December an event where Spencer was the main speaker led to raucous protests, from students who were angry that he was allowed to speak on campus. The protests even prompted a policy change that now requires future speakers to have on-campus sponsorship by “a recognized organization for external speakers,” CNN reported. That policy change came because university officials were “concerned about fringe and hate groups descending on campuses for the purpose of disruption.”
Email Sam Kestenbaum at [email protected]
A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.
If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
