Posted on October 4, 2012

White Student Union Speaker Preaches Racial Separateness

Nayana Davis, North Baltimore Patch, October 3, 2012

A prospective White Student Union at Towson University added to its own controversial history when it brought an advocate for white interests to speak Tuesday at the group’s first meeting.

Jared Taylor, editor of the “racial realism” online news site American Renaissance, said he hoped to spread a message about the importance of racial separateness. [Editor’s Note: This is not a fair characterization of Mr. Taylor’s position, which is that people of different races should be allowed to associate with whomever they wish, and people generally prefer the company of others of their own race.]

“I believe in complete freedom of association, and when given that choice most people prefer the company of people of their own race,” said Taylor, when reached by phone Wednesday. “We’re always being told to celebrate diversity and I think diversity is a source of tension.”

Many people, including a Patch reporter and other media, were denied admission to the Tuesday night event by campus security after the venue, which holds about 200, filled to capacity. Still, about 50 individuals stood outside the doors as Taylor spoke. [Editor’s Note: It’s worth emphasizing that administrators denied media personnel access without consulting event organizers.]

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“It’s a spectacular double standard that only whites are singled out and told they can’t have a race-based organization,” said Taylor, who argued that the group is necessary as demographics change making whites a minority.

Taylor said he presented evidence showing problems raised by diversity, such as data indicating that approximately 100,000 job grievances are related to racial matters. He also pointed to racial riots that occur in prisons. Taylor empathized with whites who felt the need to join gangs in prison because he said there are many black and Hispanic gangs existing outside of prison whose networks extend to jails.

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During his speech, Taylor said several people sneaked inside the venue through a fire escape and shouted an obscenity at him. {snip}

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Raymond Winbush, the director of The Institute for Urban Research at Morgan State University, said the presentation was deceptive.

“[Taylor’s] lying,” said Winbush, who is black. “He’s good at manipulating words and says he’s not racist. It’s like the white collar Ku Klux Klan.”

Towson University senior Ignacio Evans, who is also black, thought Taylor was well-spoken but called his speech “absolutely disgusting.”

“He was eloquent, put together, but inherently racist,” Evans said. “He was very anti-diversity and made assertions that people of color are inferior.”

Taylor dismissed the claims of racism as “name-calling.”

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“I have said the races are different . . . .there are unquestionable differences,” Taylor said.

And Taylor was not without supporters. Johns Hopkins University engineering professor Dennis Nagle, who is white, said he believes there is truth to Taylor’s teachings.

“He’s got some interesting views on diversity that aren’t popular,” said Nagle, who was not able to get inside the event. “But he’s got evidence and documentation to back it up.”

The White Student Union is not a university-recognized student organization, but the group’s leaders are working to make it approved. {snip}

[Editor’s Note: We expect to have the full video coverage available by tomorrow.]