‘White advocate’ event at SU met with protestors

Salisbury, Md. – The controversial event hosted by the Maryland Federation of College Republicans, featuring self-described “white advocate” Jared Taylor, took place on Wednesday at Devilbiss Hall at Salisbury University after more than a month’s postponement.

Originally scheduled for March 9, SU postponed the event citing security concerns. Earlier this month, MDFCR claimed the university’s “exorbitant” security fee was a form of censorship.

WMDT spoke with MDFCR Chairman and President Colin McEvers who said “white advocacy” and white nationalism are not mutually exclusive terms.

“I do not believe I agree with that statement, and I don’t think you can call it what you want. I believe it’s racism,” President of Salisbury College Democrats Caroline Dagnes said. SCD organized a demonstration outside of Devilbiss Hall to protest the event Wednesday evening.

McEvers also said the event was meant to be an exercise in free speech.

“It’s more so a free speech and open dialog event,” McEvers said. “So I made it very clear that we’re having an open Q&A section towards the end of the event, and we’re really trying to push the fact that people that disagree with Jared Taylor can come and actually challenge him.”

Dagnes said the demonstrators outside the hall were also exercising their right to free speech.

“We believe in freedom of speech. Absolutely. We need it,” she said. “We need it in this country, and this is not about silencing freedom of speech, not silencing anyone, but if they have the freedom of speech to bring someone like this, someone that believes in those values, then we have the freedom and right to counter that.”