The Mesa County Democratic Socialists of America is promoting what they hope will be a massive, peaceful protest against fascism and white supremacist Jared Taylor’s appearance at Colorado Mesa University. Jared is scheduled to speak at 6:00 p.m. on March 27 in room 213 of the University Center.
Below is the press release about the event:
Denton County TX, mugshot of attorney Jason Lee Van Dyke, who will be at CMU. He was accused of interfering with a witness in a pending criminal case. He was suspended for six months, followed by one year of probation.
A large crowd is gathering on 12th and North at Colorado Mesa University corner on March 27th at 4:00 pm to march peacefully to the CMU University Center to protest against racism and Colorado Mesa University (CMU) President John Marshall’s decision to platform the avowed fascist and white supremacist Jared Taylor. Organizing for the protest is being led by the Mesa County Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (MC-DSA), in solidarity and in coalition with other grass-roots organizations, student groups and community members.
Jared Taylor in 2008 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
MC-DSA, the student body and local community at large are strongly opposed to Jared Taylor being allowed to speak at CMU. “It’s up to everyday people to keep their communities safe,” says Nikoli Weir, CMU student and Organizer of MC-DSA. “MC-DSA firmly believes that white supremacy and fascism of any kind is dangerous to the freedom and well-being of the working class, and it is especially dangerous to minority groups. MC-DSA is dedicated to doing everything in its power to advance the interests of our community, and oppose fascism in all its forms.”
Isabel De La Canal, CMU student and Co-Chair of MC-DSA, says that CMU’s choice to allow Jared Taylor to speak on campus is hypocritical. “Every school day, I walk up and down the steps of Houston Hall, reading CMU’s messages preaching love, dignity, and courage— most strikingly, ‘use power for good.’ This is the same university that grants white supremacists platforms to spew their hatred. A university is an institution of learning. CMU claims that it wants to model ‘the world we want to create.’ Is this truly the world we want to create? To plaster these words on its walls while allowing white supremacy within them is not just hypocrisy, it is something far worse.”
Kylie Mayfield, CMU student and MC-DSA member, says that she is abhorred by John Marshall’s decision. “I am shocked and disappointed with CMU’s administration. It is ludicrous to me that John Marshall justifies this as free speech, as Jared Taylor’s rhetoric is hateful and is intended to provoke violence.”
MC-DSA is working with local community based organizations to oppose Jared Taylor, who is coming to our town to sow division and breed hatred. MC-DSA wants our community to be strong and resilient in the face of the oncoming wave of fascist agitators and disruptors.
Alongside Jared Taylor, Texas based Attorney Jason Lee Van Dyke is also in town. He represents the Western Culture Club, the student organization responsible for sending out the initial invitation to Taylor. According to the Criterion, CMU’s student newspaper, Van Dyke is also the one who sponsors the event financially. Van Dyke has a long history of representing right-wing extremist organizations such as Patriot Front, who have in the past committed violent acts against peaceful protestors.
Colorado Mesa University President John Marshall poses, smiling, with Lauren Boebert, who supported the violent January 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol
“Taylor and Van Dyke are here to disrupt our peaceful town and spread hatred and division, bringing white supremacist organizations here on the 27th to cause chaos and violence,” says Nikoli Weir. “Our community cannot let that happen. We must unite around our shared interests as working class people and come together peacefully to oppose Jared Taylor and white supremacy.”
“I am peacefully marching because we are all equal,” says community member and concerned citizen Nick Allan. “The racism and segregation supported by Jared Taylor should have no place in our city, state, nation or world.”
MC-DSA brings together in solidarity the working class community of Grand Junction to oppose fascism and hatred and fosters a multicultural and multiracial socialist movement that fights for the common people against fascists and the billionaire elites they represent.
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