Organizer Of Cancelled White Nationalist Protest At Texas A&M Takes Legal Action

HOUSTON, TX — Organizers of a White Lives Matter event at Texas A&M University that has been cancelled said their rights to free speech have been violated. The event, spearheaded by rally organizer Preston Wiginton, was scheduled to take place Sept. 11 at Rudder Fountain, an outdoor free-speech zone at the university.

The fountain area isn't subjected to A&M's speaker policy that only allows speakers on campus if sponsored by a student group. Wiginton said the university's decision clearly violates their free speech.

"We were not there by any means to bring violence," said Preston Wiginton

KHOU reported that Wiginton said the White Nationalist group will continue to push for free speech because "angry white people" have dealt with an agenda they refuse to embrace.

"This fight continues regardless of whether its A&M or not, these are a bunch of angry white people that are the result of the diversity that's been pushed down their throat," said Wiginton, who added that the group has begun planning a march down public street on the Texas A&M campus.

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KHOU reports that Wiginton has filed a complaint with the American Civil Liberties Union and are in talks with private attorneys to explore a lawsuit. KHOU legal analyst Gerald Treece said the group does, indeed, have the right to free speech whether or not others agree with them, and Treecesaid he wouldn't be surprised to see the legal battle see the court room.

"Just because people don't like the message it doesn't matter, that's why I think they have a valid argument," said Treece. "I think A&M is smart enough to say 'we'll take that risk'. We'd rather deal with getting sued than deal with the firestorm of potential problems if this group comes to campus."

The WLM rally was planned on the heels of a deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia last weekend. Texas A&M students began a counter protest for the same day to say they don't back the message from the WLM, white supremacists, neo-Nazis or the KKK.

Texas law makers on Monday afternoon pulled the plug on the event, saying it wouldn't happen.

Caption: Richard Spencer, who leads a movement that mixes racism, white nationalism and populism, points to demonstrator carrying a sign as he speaks at the Texas A&M University campus Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M officials say they didn't schedule the speech by Spencer, who was invited to speak by a former student who reserved campus space available to the public.

AP Photo/David J. Phillip