Texas A&M cancels Sept. 11 White Lives Matter event

[herding cats]

Source: Houston Chronicle

Texas A&M University cited safety concerns as it cancelled a white supremacist rally planned for Sept. 11 by an outside organizer.

University administrators consulted with law enforcement, system leaders and regents before cancelling the rally, spokeswoman Amy Smith said. Gov. Greg Abbott's office said Monday it had been working with the university on how to handle the event safely as well.


The university could cancel the event, Smith said, because organizer Preston Wiginton directly linked his plans for A&M to the weekend violence in Charlottesville near the University of Virginia with a press release that read "Today Charlottesville, Tomorrow Texas A&M."

The daylong event, she said, also posed logistical challenges. Crowds could block pedestrian and bus system movement among students, faculty and staff, she said.

Read more: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/education/campus-chronicles/amp/Rep-Texas-A-M-cancels-Sept-11-White-Lives-11818626.php

[irisblue]

1. Good

[dalton99a]

2. Preston Wiginton:

David Duke and Preston Wiginton

[yellowcanine]

14. Bless his heart, his mama must be so proud.

[Laffy Kat]

3. "White Lives Matter"?

Are you effing kidding me? Was this University sponsored? No words.

[Aristus]

6. Who knows?

But Texas A&M is basically a Schutzstaffel training center with a football team...

[alarimer]

17. No it isn't.

It's actually a pretty good school, dipshits like this notwithstanding.

[TexasBushwhacker]

8. Not university sponsored

Wiginton is a TAMU alum who invited Richard Spencer to give a talk several months ago. Few supporters showed up, but plenty of counterprotesters. Wiginton is also a russophile.

[Laffy Kat]

16. Ok, thanks. At least that is a relief. nt

[MontanaMama]

4. This is a start.

We need to see more. Drive the Nazis back under the rocks from which they came.

[walkingman]

5. Surprises me but

it would be really stupid considering the recent events to allow it. Aggies, in my opinion, are not very progressive but not stupid.

[TNNurse]

7. Why was it ever scheduled there in the first place????

Heads should roll.

[tammywammy]

9. It's a public university.

They couldn't cancel because it's disgusting, but they can for safety reasons.

[dalton99a]

10. Wiginton is a loser and a troublemaker

https://www.texastribune.org/2017/08/13/white-nationalist-rally-counter-protest-planned-texas-m-sept-11/

But in a Facebook post, A&M System Regent Tony Buzbee, a prominent Houston lawyer, said he has looked into whether the university could keep Wiginton from holding events on campus.

"Because we offer these facilities to the public for use, we cannot deny such use due to political ideology or speech content," Buzbee said. "The First Amendment allows speech like this, even though it is repugnant and wrong."

Ultimately, Buzbee said, Wiginton is seeking attention.

"He has never accomplished anything positive in his life and never will," Buzbee said. "It is a damn shame that our university, which sent more officers to fight the Nazis than all the service academies combined, would be tarnished by trash like him. But, in the end, the best way to deal with a lowlife like him is to ignore him."

[herding cats]

12. I was just about to post that myself.

Thanks for the assist!

[forgotmylogin]

13. And that t-shirt...

"Celebrate diversity" showing an array of firearms.

[FLPanhandle]

11. No choice but to abide by the 1st amendment

They didn't cancel because of their message, they had to find another reason to cancel (e.g. safety). Even then, the lawsuit is probably being filed.

Tough situation for any public university.

[hibbing]

15. Question

Would you consider someone who would attend such an even racist? I personally would, I mean what a stupid event. We all need to think about why that movement was started in the first place. I'm afraid this kind of garbage is going to spread like crazy. The current part time resident of the White House has made people feel comfortable with it.


Peace