Texas A&M Regent Tony Buzbee denounces plans for white-nationalist rally at school

HOUSTON – White Nationalists and counter protesters clashed over the weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Inspired by what he saw there, White Nationalist Leader Preston Wiginton announced plans for a “White Lives Matter” rally to be held on Sept. 11 at Texas A&M University featuring White Nationalist Richard Spencer.

Prominent Houston attorney and Texas A&M Regent Tony Buzbee told KPRC 2 that after analyzing the rally, the administration determined that it could not guarantee the safety of the students. The administration cancelled the event.

"It's a damn shame that somebody like this takes advantage of that we have to let him use the facility, so long as he pays his user fee, to try to tarnish our reputation,” Buzbee said.

He said Texas A&M had few options to keep the protest from happening.

"The only thing we can do is make sure there is proper security there. There are safeguards in place. And let them do whatever they're going to do without violence," Buzbee said.

Buzbee pointed out the First Amendment limits what public universities can do when it comes to on-campus events that some, even if in the majority, find wrong.

He said this planned rally goes against everything Texas A&M stands for.

"30,000 Aggies fought in World War II and fought against this very kind of speech that they're going to be celebrating here. It's just ironic that this is where this person would choose. Because it's so contrary to our Aggie values," Buzbee said.

The planned Sept. 11 rally would have been the second hosted by an alt-right group within a year.

Texas A&M was praised for how it handled hundreds, from Spencer supporters, to counter-protestors, in Dec. 2016.

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