reelbigtink
Member
I'm not sure what kind of reach this story has gotten but things have been wacky here in Auburn (Alabama) for a few days.
It all started when white supremacist and alt-right leader Richard Spencer announced he was coming to Auburn University to give a speech at Foy Student Union. Auburn apparently didn't invite him and had nothing to do with booking him. Spencer privately booked and paid for the event space. It's been rumored that the recently founded Auburn White Student Union tossed the official invite his way. http://thetab.com/us/auburn/2017/04/12/richard-spencer-auburn-1189
Naturally, there's been a ton of outrage. Auburn initially released a statement supporting Spencer's right to speak on campus: "We strongly deplore his views, which run counter to those of this institution. While his event isnt affiliated with the university, Auburn supports the constitutional right to free speech. We encourage the campus community to respond to speech they find objectionable with their own views in civil discourse and to do so with respect and inclusion.
This was met with even more unrest and university officials' inboxes were no doubt filled to the brim with both objectors and supporters. Eventually Auburn changed course and canceled the event, citing "information" they'd received that led them to believe that folks wouldn't be safe if the show were to go on. http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/04/auburn_cancels_speech_by_white.html
So it was over. OR SO WE THOUGHT. Spencer released a statement of his own, promising that Auburn would "rue the day" they canceled his event, and claims to be bringing his own posse of white supremacists to town to give a big speech/rally anyway. http://www.theplainsman.com/article/2017/04/richard-spencer-auburn-will-rue-the-day
So this is happening next week and Auburn social media has been INSANE all day. There are protests planned, peaceful events away from the action planned, no-doubt the White Student Union will be there in full force. It's getting ugly.
If this has already been discussed elsewhere I apologize. I searched back a bunch of pages for anything involving Auburn or Spencer and got nothing.
Oh, and for the record, I've been completely against the university hosting this guy (privately or not). Once you choose to become a bigot and advocate for ethnic cleansing you probably shouldn't be giving speeches at institutions of higher education.
It all started when white supremacist and alt-right leader Richard Spencer announced he was coming to Auburn University to give a speech at Foy Student Union. Auburn apparently didn't invite him and had nothing to do with booking him. Spencer privately booked and paid for the event space. It's been rumored that the recently founded Auburn White Student Union tossed the official invite his way. http://thetab.com/us/auburn/2017/04/12/richard-spencer-auburn-1189
Naturally, there's been a ton of outrage. Auburn initially released a statement supporting Spencer's right to speak on campus: "We strongly deplore his views, which run counter to those of this institution. While his event isnt affiliated with the university, Auburn supports the constitutional right to free speech. We encourage the campus community to respond to speech they find objectionable with their own views in civil discourse and to do so with respect and inclusion.
This was met with even more unrest and university officials' inboxes were no doubt filled to the brim with both objectors and supporters. Eventually Auburn changed course and canceled the event, citing "information" they'd received that led them to believe that folks wouldn't be safe if the show were to go on. http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/04/auburn_cancels_speech_by_white.html
So it was over. OR SO WE THOUGHT. Spencer released a statement of his own, promising that Auburn would "rue the day" they canceled his event, and claims to be bringing his own posse of white supremacists to town to give a big speech/rally anyway. http://www.theplainsman.com/article/2017/04/richard-spencer-auburn-will-rue-the-day
So this is happening next week and Auburn social media has been INSANE all day. There are protests planned, peaceful events away from the action planned, no-doubt the White Student Union will be there in full force. It's getting ugly.
If this has already been discussed elsewhere I apologize. I searched back a bunch of pages for anything involving Auburn or Spencer and got nothing.
Oh, and for the record, I've been completely against the university hosting this guy (privately or not). Once you choose to become a bigot and advocate for ethnic cleansing you probably shouldn't be giving speeches at institutions of higher education.