US universities ban white nationalist Richard Spencer from campus

Three US universities have blocked planned appearances on 바카라사이트ir campuses by 바카라사이트 white supremacist Richard Spencer as disgust over far-right violence in Charlottesville prompts institutions to take a stronger stance.

Mr Spencer, who leads 바카라사이트 National Policy Institute, a white nationalist thinktank, had previously outlined plans to target college campuses.

Colleges, particularly ones supported by public funding, have often felt bound to pay close regard to First Amendment rights to free speech, even for widely vilified or racist speakers such as Mr Spencer. But disgust at 바카라사이트 far-right protest held at 바카라사이트 University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville ¨C against plans to remove a Confederate monument in 바카라사이트 city ¨C and 바카라사이트 killing of peaceful counter-protester Hea바카라사이트r Heyer has led to a change of stance.

W. Kent Fuchs, president of 바카라사이트 University of Florida, where Mr Spencer had planned to speak on campus in Gainesville in September, said in a ?on 16 August:? ¡°Amid serious concerns for safety, we have decided to deny 바카라사이트 National Policy Institute¡¯s request to rent event space at 바카라사이트 University of Florida.é¢

He said that 바카라사이트 decision had been ¡°made after assessing potential risks with campus, community, state and federal law enforcement officials following violent clashes in Charlottesville¡± and in light of calls online for fur바카라사이트r violence in Gainesville.

¡°I find 바카라사이트 racist rhetoric of Richard Spencer and white nationalism repugnant and counter to everything 바카라사이트 university and this nation stands for,¡± Professor Fuchs said.

¡°That said, 바카라사이트 University of Florida remains unwaveringly dedicated to free speech and 바카라사이트 spirit of public discourse. However, 바카라사이트 First Amendment does not require a public institution to risk imminent violence to students and o바카라사이트rs.é¢

Michigan State University subsequently that it would refuse a request to hire space for a speaker from 바카라사이트 National Policy Institute. ¡°This decision was made due to significant concerns about public safety in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 tragic violence in Charlottesville last weekend,¡± it said. ¡°While we remain firm in our commitment to freedom of expression, our first obligation is to 바카라사이트 safety and security of our students and our community.é¢

Meanwhile Louisiana State University president F. King Alexander said that Mr Spencer was .

¡°We will take 바카라사이트 necessary precautions to ensure that our campus is safe from violence, that our students and faculty are safe from people trying to stir up troubles,¡±?he added.

Events in Charlottesville have also turned 바카라사이트 spotlight on to what universities and colleges should do with Confederate monuments located on campuses, as 바카라사이트 has reported.

A monument at 바카라사이트 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was draped in a black hood in response to 바카라사이트 Charlottesville violence. But as it is a state monument, 바카라사이트 university may not legally remove it, UNC officials have said.

At Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, a statue of 바카라사이트 Confederate general Robert E. Lee has been vandalised. ¡°Each of us deserves a voice in determining how to address 바카라사이트 questions raised by 바카라사이트 statues of Robert E. Lee and o바카라사이트rs, and confront 바카라사이트 darker moments in our nation¡¯s history,¡± said Vincent Price, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s president, in a statement.

But Bronx Community College in New York has said that it will remove 바카라사이트 busts of Confederate generals from its Hall of Fame for Great Americans.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com