College Campuses: The New Recruiting Ground for White Supremacists

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Earlier this month, the Anti-Defamation League released a report that found that white supremacist propaganda on college campuses increased by 258 percent between fall 2016 and fall 2017. The incidents range from flyering, to unveiling posters, to marches, and direct confrontations with students. 

Jonathan Greenblatt, national director and CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, contextualizes the rise in white supremacist activity on college campuses nationwide. 

In Texas, the state with the most cases of white supremacist activity on college campuses (61), journalist Candice Bernd has been examining specific incidents, and how universities are toeing the line between free speech, while students and the college community are demanding a more proactive approach. 

One such incident occurred just the other week, at the University of California San Diego. Amarachi Metu, a fourth year student, was sitting in on a gender and race class when a student who affiliated himself with the white supremacist group, Identity Evropa, entered the class.

It's one of many white supremacist incidents that has happened at UCSD, and Metu, a student journalist, describes what the effect has been on campus. 

Click on the 'Listen' button above to hear the full conversation with Greenblatt, Bernd, and Metu. Don't have time to listen right now? Subscribe to our podcast via iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts to take this segment with you on the go.

Flyers found on Texas college campuses since the 2016 election.

(Police records obtained by the Texas Observer)

A flyer on a college campus.

(Anti-Defamation League.)

A Identity Evropa flyer at the University of Nebraska

(Anti-Defamation League)

In response to this story, UCSD sent The Takeaway the following statement: 

"Like many other colleges and universities throughout the country, UC San Diego has been targeted by hate groups who seek to spread their propaganda, taking advantage of our policies protecting freedom of expression. We understand that the actions of these individuals are hurtful to many and we share in our community's frustration, anger and concern.

 UC San Diego unequivocally condemns all language and actions that espouse and support hate as well as any doctrines that elevate one group above another. As a public research university, UC San Diego also supports everyone's right to free speech, which is a cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution as well as academic freedom. We can use our own free speech rights to emphatically oppose hateful ideologies espoused by those expressing malice and we will continue to use our voice to collectively condemn and confront intolerance. The antidote to hate speech is more speech - speaking out against intolerance and bigotry - and one the university will continue advocating."