Michigan State is the latest school to deny neo-Nazi Richard Spencer and his group of followers the opportunity to spew racist rhetoric on campus. This comes, of course, after the horrific events that went down in Charlottesville, Virginia a week ago.
The National Policy Institute, the organization Spencer runs, had reached out to Michigan State to inquire about scheduling an event for September. The school announced its decision to deny the group's request in a statement released Thursday.
"After consultation with law enforcement officials, Michigan State University has decided to deny the National Policy Institute’s request to rent space on campus to accommodate a speaker," the statement reads. "This decision was made due to significant concerns about public safety in the wake of the tragic violence in Charlottesville last weekend. While we remain firm in our commitment to freedom of expression, our first obligation is to the safety and security of our students and our community."
According to USA TODAY College, this denial follows previous rejections from Texas A&M and University of Florida. Louisiana newspaper The Advocate reported Richard Spencer had also been rejected by Louisiana State University.
"We will take the 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," LSU President F. King Alexander told The Advocate. University spokesperson Ernie Ballard III confirmed the rejection to USA TODAY College, emphasizing that Spencer "is not welcome at LSU."
Spencer was a key figure in the Unite the Right rally that turned into a violent protest in Charlottesville, resulting in one death and numerous injuries, and many demonstrations across the country.
