College Station police report no arrests or injuries after protesters of a controversial campus speaker clashed with officers in riot gear Tuesday night.
Richard Spencer, the president of the Alt-right National Policy Institute, came to campus on the invitation of former A&M student Preston Wiginton who rented out a room in the Memorial Student Center for the event.
Some people compare the Alt-right movement to white supremacy. In one of his more inflammatory statements during his speech Spencer said, “America, at the end of the day, belongs to white men.”
Spencer’s appearance sparked protests before and during his speech. The protests before the speech were peaceful. Outside of the student center dozens of students gathered to sing songs, chant, play instruments, and wave signs of disapproval of Spencer.
During Spencer’s speech protesters got more aggressive with their tactics. Officers wore riot gear and carried batons to keep them from reaching the room where Spencer was speaking.
The speech was not hosted nor supported by the university. Texas A&M President Michael Young said school leaders chose not to snuff out the event in the interest of free speech.
