A speech by Jared Taylor at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) has ignited fierce debate, with students and community members protesting against his presence. The event, organized by the Western Culture Club, quickly became a flashpoint over issues of free speech and hate speech.

Limited Tickets, Unlimited Controversy

Eighty tickets labeled “Jared Taylor: Divorce Papers for a Divided Nation” were distributed for the event, triggering immediate backlash. On Monday, students received an email notifying them of ticket availability. Within hours, a follow-up email announced they were gone.

During his speech, Taylor defended his beliefs in racial segregation.

“All I’m saying is that multiracialism eventually will lead to mixing that obliterates all of the beautiful diversity that I believe,” Taylor stated. He argued that different cultures can be appreciated without integration, using examples like opera and Japan.

Audience Reacts with Skepticism and Outrage

Not everyone in attendance was convinced by Taylor’s arguments.

• “Jared Taylor himself had a pretty lackluster argument throughout the entirety of his speech. It didn’t really land super well with the audience,” said attendee Samuel Seitz.
• “If it’s all about free speech, how come I was threatened with force to be kicked out of that room as soon as I opened my mouth? Seemingly, the speech is only free for the white supremacist,” questioned Dean Withers.

Some students expressed concerns over the implications of Taylor’s rhetoric. Bonnie Duffy, a CMU student, said his speech was directly harmful to first-generation and international students.

The Debate Over Free Speech

The speech reignited discussions on the line between free speech and hate speech. The student group Ratio Christi set up a whiteboard with the question: “The Jared Taylor event is free speech gone too far.” Students were invited to vote on the issue.

John VanderVelde, Ratio Christi’s chapter director, condemned Taylor’s views but defended his right to speak.

“In this case with Jared Taylor, with what I know about him and what I’ve read about him and the interviews that I’ve seen with him in it, he is not promoting violence. He’s not promoting hatred toward any race. And so, I think in this case, definitely it’s not free speech gone too far,” VanderVelde said.

Protests Extend Beyond Campus

The Mesa County Democratic Socialists of America organized a protest outside the event. The demonstration attracted students and community members, with signs and chants condemning Taylor’s message.

Paul Ashby, a protester, criticized CMU President John Marshall’s handling of the situation.

“I think John Marshall should have reframed it as a public debate and had a clergy or a professor of political science debate this person so he wouldn’t go with unquestioned lies and racism being promoted here,” Ashby said.

CMU Officials Respond

Marshall stood alongside students at the counter-protest event, the Unity Festival, emphasizing the university’s commitment to free speech.

“I made the decision, but the principle at stake here is fundamentally the Constitution of the United States and our ethical obligation to ensure that everybody has freedom of speech, even the stuff that we don’t like,” Marshall stated.

Student Body President Leilani Domingo echoed this sentiment. She stressed that her role is to advocate for all students, regardless of personal opinion.

“If we deny one person, then we have to deny all. And so as much as it might be hurtful and as much as I disagree 100% with Jared Taylor’s views, he is allowed on this campus because it’s a public campus,” Domingo said.

Unity Festival Offers Alternative Response

In response to the controversy, Domingo spearheaded the Unity Festival, an event designed to bring students together in opposition to divisiveness. The festival featured free food, music, a mechanical bull, and various campus clubs hosting activities.

“We’re trying to celebrate being together and instead of responding to divisiveness with hostility,” said Ethan Otto, a student involved in the festival. “We’re embracing that hostility.”

The event saw significant turnout, with Domingo calling it a success.

Meanwhile, Western Culture Club President Maxwell Applebaugh did not respond to requests for comment regarding his group’s decision to invite Taylor.