Photo by Vas Panagiotopoulos via Flickr
Michigan State University officials will not allow white supremacist leader Richard Spencer to speak at the campus.
A statement issued by the school Thursday afternoon says the decision was made after consulting with law enforcement.
"This decision was made due to significant concerns about public safety in the wake of the tragic violence in Charlottesville last weekend," the statement reads. "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."
The National Policy Institute, where Spencer serves as president, contacted MSU on Wednesday seeking an appearance on its East Lansing campus in September. The school said it would closely review the request "in light of the deplorable violence in Charlottesville," where a white nationalist protest turned deadly.
MSU isn't the first school to deny Spencer the chance to speak since the events in Charlottesville. University of Florida officials also shut down a request by his group to have him speak next month after "assessing potential risks."
