“White Advocate” Speaker to Visit Salisbury University on Apr. 29

SALISBURY, Md. – The Maryland Federation of College Republicans (MDFCR) has rescheduled a visit from self-proclaimed “white advocate,” Jared Taylor, after the event was initially pushed due to security concerns from Salisbury University (SU) officials. 

The event, originally scheduled for Mar. 9, gained the attention of the community shortly after it was announced. The MDFCR, while not an SU organization, scheduled a renting space on campus for aforementioned speaking engagement. The University says that in the days that followed, the level of anticipated attendance, counter-demonstrations, and related security needs increased significantly. The planning and public safety resources needed to ensure the safety of all students and faculty were unable to be provided on short notice.

However, Taylor is now set to lecture on the school’s grounds come Wednesday, Apr. 29.

“While the Maryland Federation of College Republicans has chosen to reserve space at SU to hold its event, Salisbury University does not endorse, sponsor, or support the views expressed by Mr. Taylor — whose extremist rhetoric stands in direct opposition to the University’s core values of respect, equity, and inclusion — or the event itself,” the university said in a statement to WMDT. “As a state institution, we are bound by Maryland law, which prohibits discrimination against those wishing to lease event space at public institutions, assuming all financial, insurance, and safety requirements are met, and we are committed to upholding the constitutional principles of free speech and expression, even when those viewpoints conflict with the values of our community.”

MDFCR’s president, Colin McEvers, celebrated the rescheduled event on social media.

“We did not succumb to the leftist pressure to cancel this free speech event,” he wrote. “I have been fighting the administration & other forces to re-schedule, and victory has been achieved.”

McEvers also stated that the event will remain open to the public, but attendees are asked to RSVP ahead of time. Additionally, he claimed that the university is charging MDFCR “thousands of dollars for security,” and said that the group is accepting donations ahead of Taylor’s visit.

WMDT will continue to provide updates on this story as details are made available.