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TERROR

The Latest: Texas A&M says planned rally posed security risk

Associated Press
Published | Updated

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Latest on a planned white nationalist rally scheduled to be held next month at Texas A&M University (all times local):

5:50 p.m.

Texas A&M University says it is canceling a planned "white lives matter" rally on its campus next month "because of concerns about the safety of its students, faculty, staff, and the public."

Attempting to organize the event on Sept. 11 was a former A&M student who said he was inspired by the weekend's "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

But, in a statement Monday evening, the university says, "Linking the tragedy of Charlottesville with the Texas A&M event creates a major security risk on our campus." It added that the "daylong event would provide disruption to our class schedules and to student, faculty and staff movement."

The university also said its "support of the First Amendment and the freedom of speech cannot be questioned."

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5:30 p.m.

A Texas lawmaker says Texas A&M University won't host a "white lives matter" rally on the campus next month.

Republican state Rep. John Raney said Monday that university chancellor John Sharp told him the event had been canceled due to "hate messages" on social media and police concerns of violence. The event had been scheduled for Sept. 11.

Raney made the announcement on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives just hours after lawmakers said they were working to stop the rally form taking place.

Texas A&M officials confirmed the event had been canceled.

The event was organized by a former A&M student who said he was inspired by the weekend's "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

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2:50 p.m.

Texas state lawmakers have begun bipartisan efforts to get Texas A&M to block a planned "white lives matter" rally on that university's campus next month.

Dallas Democratic Rep. Helen Giddings said during a House floor speech Monday that A&M administrators should "unequivocally denounce and fight against" racist groups and that Texas should reject hate in all forms with one voice. Nearly every House member stood alongside her.

Rep. Paul Workman, an Austin Republican, said a petition being circulated for A&M graduates in the House is attempting to "keep this from going on on our campus."

White nationalist Preston Wiginton is organizing a Sept. 11 rally at Texas A&M.

Wiginton, a former A&M student, says he was inspired by the weekend's "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

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11:05 a.m.

Texas A&M University has criticized the views of a white nationalist who is planning a "white lives matter" rally on campus next month.

A&M spokeswoman Amy Smith told The Battalion student newspaper that Preston Wiginton's rhetoric is "counter to the core values of Texas A&M."

Smith said in an earlier statement to The Dallas Morning News that the university didn't invite any white nationalists, but that it can't stop them from coming. She says anyone can reserve space on the public university's campus.

Wiginton says he's invited prominent white nationalist Richard Spencer to address the rally. It's not clear if Spencer will attend.

Wiginton, a former A&M student, says he was inspired by the weekend's "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, at which a vehicle plowed into a group of counterprotesters, killing at least one and injuring 19.