Students Countering Richard Spencer’s Auburn Appearance With Concert, Coffee
Richard Spencer Image by YouTube Screenshot
By Aiden Pink April 18, 2017
White nationalist leader Richard Spencer has pledged that he will still speak at Auburn University on Tuesday night despite the school’s decision to revoke its approval of his speech. Students and residents of the Alabama town are preparing to counter the “alt-right” activist with a campus-wide music festival.
The event, called #AuburnUnites, will take place at multiple public locations around campus. The festival’s organizers, who raised more than $1,000 to cover costs in less than 24 hours, is designed both to deny Spencer a public place to speak, as well as “Send a message to the minority population at Auburn that, as their peers, we will not tolerate their marginalization.” Leftover funds will be donated to the NAACP.
“Instead of another violent protest that you’d see on the news, we would like to have people come to an alternative event, as to not give Spencer Vocativ.
Several community leaders are scheduled to speak, including the president of Auburn’s Hillel chapter. Free pizza will also be provided.
Other campus events promoting unity include a “celebration of diverse community” at a local cafe, with free coffee provided.
Contact Aiden Pink at pink@forward.com.
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