Richard Spencer is one of the leading voices of the alt-right movement in the United States. He was scheduled to be one of the main speakers at Saturday’s event in Charlottesville. Spencer forcefully advocates a set of white supremacist views about race and religion that I find personally abhorrent. Nonetheless, back in April I wrote an op-ed in the New York Times defending Spencer’s First Amendment right to speak at Auburn University, drawing an analogy to the right of the American Nazi Party to march in Skokie, Illinois, in 1978.

On August 1, I received an email from Spencer, which led to the following exchange:

Dear Professor Stone,

This is Richard Spencer of Alt-Right fame.

I greatly appreciated your op-ed in the New York Times last April; indeed, I think it will be looked back upon as significant in changing the contemporary free-speech debate.

As you might know, I’m a Chicago alumnus. [Spencer received an M.A. from the University of Chicago in 2003.] I’m eager to return to campus, particularly [because the University has made clear that it] will not be a “safe space,” in the sense of protecting students from dangerous ideas.

In this line, would you be interested in engaging me on campus, or sponsoring an event at which I speak? This could take many forms: a formal debate (probably my least favorite idea), a discussion with you or another professor, or a speech and AMA with the student body.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Best wishes,

Richard Spencer

My response:

Dear Mr. Spencer,

My strong support for the right of students and faculty to invite speakers to campus to address whatever views they think worth discussing does not mean that I personally think that all views are worth discussing. From what I have seen of your views, they do not seem to me at add anything of value to serious and reasoned discourse, which is of course the central goal of a university. Thus, although I would defend the right of others to invite you to speak, I don’t see any reason for me to encourage or to endorse such an event.

Best wishes.

Geof Stone

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