Ohio State University Denies Richard Spencer Speech Request, Gets Sued

COLUMBUS, OH — After Ohio State University rejected a request to rent space for a speech by white nationalist Richard Spencer, an associate and organizer of Spencer's campus tours decided to sue the institution in federal court Sunday. An attorney for Ohio State sent a letter Friday to Spencer's associate Cameron Padgett saying that the school "values freedom of speech," but the request would pose a "substantial risk to public safety."

The decision was made after university officials consulted with law enforcement authorities and took into account what happened during Spencer's speech Thursday at the University of Florida, Columbus attorney Michael Carpenter wrote. The Florida governor declared a state of emergency in the county that includes Gainesville. Security costs for the event were estimated at $600,000.

An Ohio State spokesman declined to comment Sunday about the lawsuit. (For more information on this and other Columbus stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Michigan attorney Kyle Bristow threatened to sue Ohio State and the University of Cincinnati on behalf of Padgett if they refused to rent space for Spencer to speak. University of Cincinnati officials relented earlier this month but have not set a date for Spencer's appearance. Bristow said in a statement Sunday said the event will likely occur early next year.

Bristow successfully sued Auburn University in Alabama to allow Spencer to speak there and has filed lawsuits against Michigan State University and Penn State University that are pending. Bristow claims in the statement that he helped the American Civil Liberties Union when it sued to allow a "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August that led to deadly violence when 20-year-old white nationalist James Field Jr., of Ohio, struck and killed a protester with his car.

"I guarantee that wherever I am, whatever circumstances may arise, the Alt-Right shall enjoy the right to free speech," Bristow said Sunday.

Counter-protesters far outnumbered Spencer supporters and mostly drowned out his University of Florida speech with anti-Nazi chants, booing him off the stage under the watchful eye of police officers in riot gear.

Spencer said he considered the speech a success even though he "wasn't able to talk to people."

Photo credit: David J. Phillip/Associated Press