PITTSBURGH_A Georgia university student wanted white nationalist Richard Spencer to speak at Penn State University, but school president Eric Barron said in August it would be a major security risk and deemed the speaker unwelcome.
Now that Georgia State University student who is organizing a collegiate speaking tour by Spencer is suing, saying the refusal is a violation of free speech rights.
The lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania was filed Thursday on behalf of plaintiff Cameron Padgett, 29. Named as defendants are Barron and Penn State's board of trustees.
Spencer is founder of the alt-right movement that advocates a whites-only state. He leads the National Policy Institute, or NPI, a white nationalist group.
The complaint says Padgett sought to rent a conference room or lecture hall so Spencer could share with attendees his alt-right philosophy.
"Due to the viewpoint of Spencer and NPI, people who are politically left of center find Spencer's and NPI's constitutionally protected political views to be objectionable," the 10-page complaint says.
Barron's statement on Aug. 22 turning down the request to lease campus space followed violence that month that erupted at white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville, Va., earlier that month, leaving a woman dead.
Barron said he considered Spencer's views "abhorrent." But he said Penn State's decision was based on security considerations.
"After critical assessment by campus police, in consultation with state and federal law enforcement officials, we have determined that Mr. Spencer is not welcome on our campus, as this event at this time presents a major security risk to students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus," said Barron's statement. "It is the likelihood of disruption and violence, not the content, however odious, that drives our decision."
The complaint alleges that antifa or anti-fascist protesters have engaged in violence against Spencer and his supporters during appearances and that it is discriminatory and unconstitutional to prohibit the speech based on that.
The lawsuit was filed the same day there was heckling and violence at an appearance by Spencer on the University of Florida's Gainesville campus.
Penn State received the speaking request July 23 from an individual who identified himself as a Georgia State University student and assistant to Spencer.
Penn State is not the first university to block an appearance by Spencer. Several others have done the same.
The complaint says Padgett "subscribes to the identitarian philosophy." It says he does not consider himself alt-right but supports Spencer.
Penn State had no immediate comment Friday on the lawsuit.
A call to Padgett's attorney, A. Jordan Rushie, was not immediately returned.
The difficult issues the suit raises were in evidence Friday as Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, in Pittsburgh for a news conference related to the opioid crisis, was approached for comment.
Asked twice whether Spencer should be allowed to speak at Penn State, the governor did not provide a clear yes or no answer.
"I think the kinds of stuff he has stood for and stands for, I guess, are reprehensible. It's not American. I don't know the lawsuit and I don't know the specific issues there, and I don't know exactly what it is he wants to say at Penn State, but what he has said is pretty awful."
He added, "I think everybody has the freedom of speech, but no one has the right to intimidate ... I certainly don't believe in what Richard Spencer stands for."
