The perils, and rewards, of countering ideological supremacism from the left.
This coming Tuesday, October 2, Jared Taylor, editor of American Renaissance, will speak at Towson University at the invitation of a prospective student group, the White Student Union (event details are here). This will be an “interest meeting” to see if there is sufficient interest on campus to start the group.
The university is doing its best to shut down Mr. Taylor’s talk. First, although students routinely get free space on campus to hold “interest meetings,” this has been denied to the students organizing the White Student Union (WSU). They will have to pay $350 for the meeting room where Mr. Taylor will speak.
Second, the school claims 13 police officers will be needed to secure the event because hostile protesters are expected. School administrators initially demanded that WSU organizers pay nearly $2,600 for security, but later agreed to charge half that amount: $1,300.
It is contemptible that a public university is requiring students to pay outrageous sums simply because others oppose them. Moreover, it is an unconstitutional assault on free speech and assembly (the Supreme Court in Forsyth County v. Nationalist Movement struck down an ordinance in Forsyth County, Georgia, that allowed the county to set fees for events based on how much police protection the event would need).
We hope to resolve this situation legally, but in the meantime, we need your help. We hope to collect the $1,650 necessary by tomorrow at noon to ensure this event will be held. Donations are tax-deductible.
[UPDATE: We have reached the sum necessary and have submitted payment to Towson. The contract has been signed and we expect the event to go on as planned. Thank you all for your generosity.]