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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRichard Spencer Cancels Tour After MSU Epic Failure
A year after launching a barnstorming tour of the nations colleges, delivering at each stop controversial speeches designed as much to trigger protests from an increasingly energetic antifascist movement as they were to introduce racist ideas to Americas youth, Richard Spencer is hanging it up.
Spencer, the head of the National Policy Institute, announced over the weekend that he was ending his college speaking tour, saying he plans to make a course correction after his speech last week at Michigan State University drew a less-than-sizeable audience and ended with violent clashes and the arrest of one of Spencers closest confidants, a former school teacher.
In our lives, we always need to be course correcting. We always need to take a step back and think, and ask ourselves honestly, is this the right direction? Spencer said in a 25-minute video uploaded on Sunday to YouTube. We need to do that with regard to my public appearances going forward or really any public appearance involving a controversial, alt-right identitarian figure.
Spencers announcement ends an expansive effort that criss-crossed the country and involved repeated court battles some of which remain unresolved for speeches planned at the University of Cincinnati and Penn State as the white nationalist alt-right sought to spread racist ideologies among Americas youth. The effort led to repeated controversy as colleges and universities fought to restrict access and prevent violent clashes between the alt-right and the antifascist protests that followed Spencer wherever he spoke.
https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/03/12/richard-spencer-cancels-speaking-tour-college-campuses-after-speech-michigan
Brother Buzz
(36,217 posts)FSogol
(45,360 posts)Initech
(99,915 posts)You can't threaten someone with something you use to decorate your lawn with! And wearing khakis and white shirts? You look like you should be selling close out furniture!
FSogol
(45,360 posts)Alpeduez21
(1,739 posts)because Antifa stepped up to the plate. People condemn Antifa. People say 'stay home and eat cake.' NO!!!! When Nazis are marching in our streets we get have to get out there and shout them down. Show their pictures on social media, get them fired. When they start attacking people defend those attacked.
Look at the racist attitude ICE is practicing. The struggle continues. This is a good step, though.
He is not announcing his activities in advance publicly anymore. He and his will still be active, though. We need to keep an eye on him. They will show again in Charlottesville or someplace else and do a quick march with torches. That ideologue will continue to strive as long as people tolerate. GET OUT THE VOTE.
Initech
(99,915 posts)I made it a new year's resolution this year that I definitely want to get out and join some protests. We have actual fucking Nazis marching in our streets. My grandparents fought against fascism in WWII, I will do the same! The patriotic thing to do will be to kick these assholes to the curb!
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)All of the Very Serious People admonish us hot-headed youth (some in our 60s, 70s and 80s) to just chill and the Nazis will go away all by themselves. Shamefully, we ignored their heartfelt advice and deep concern, and it looks like the Nazis have decided to adopt the methods and tactics of their ideological compatriots at Westboro Baptist Church, another group we were advised to ignore.
It's very puzzling that the Very Serious People would stick with their advice when the exact opposite action has such salutary effect.
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)dchill
(38,324 posts)Long-form way to say Nazi.
Lint Head
(15,064 posts)Racist bigots. That is the term. Why be so politically correct Mr. Spencer? Are you afraid of what you are?. Your companion Bannon says you should wear racism as a badge of honor. So why don't you do it. You already espoused Nazi and white supremacist views so what's the difference?
malaise
(267,827 posts)He should be on trial for murder
Javaman
(62,442 posts)good riddance to bad rubbish.