Richard Spencer doesn't want dialogue about race, culture or even free speech.
A well-known white nationalist and racist, Richard Spencer, made a speech Tuesday evening at Auburn University, even though the university did it's best to cancel the planned event.
In a letter to students regarding the Spencer event, Provost Timothy Boosinger, vice president for academic affairs, and Associate Provost Taffye Benson Clayton, vice president for inclusion and diversity, said Spencer would be allowed to speak in Foy Hall.
Citing safety concerns, the public university in eastern Alabama on Friday canceled a Spencer event that had been scheduled for Tuesday night.
Black students and alumni (including myself) have planned to show up en masse, but say that they will not give Spencer the melee he wants.
Widely circulated video footage showed some Trump supporters giving Nazi-style salutes to Spencer during a gathering in Washington to celebrate the Republican candidate's win.
Tuesday afternoon April 18th a Judge issued a restraining order against Auburn Universitie's efforts to stop Spencer from speaking. But still, if Spencer were scheduled to speak anywhere, I'd probably feel the same way about him.
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He said his Auburn appearance was sponsored by AltRight.com, a white nationalist site. "Please know that additional security measures are being taken by the Auburn Police Division to uphold the safety of our community".
Debates over free speech on college campuses have flared up in recent months after appearances by such controversial speakers as Charles Murray and Milo Yiannopoulos.
"Over the past week, Auburn University has faced attempts by uninvited, unaffiliated, off-campus groups and individuals to provoke conflict that is racially divisive and disruptive to our campus environment".
"Auburn University supports the rights and privileges afforded by the First Amendment. However, when the tenets of free speech are overshadowed by threats to the safety of our students, faculty and staff, we have a responsibility to protect our campus", the Provost's Office said in a statement.
The challenges seemed to embolden Spencer.
In the wake of the cancellation, Spencer told the Auburn Plainsman that the university would "rue the day". It is a public place.
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