White nationalist Rick Tyler spoke at the University of Tennessee’s Knoxville campus Tuesday evening. The few who turned out to hear his message were far outnumbered by protestors.
Around 75 people gathered at the corner of Andy Holt Avenue and Phillip Fulmer Way to confront supporters of Tyler, an occasional political candidate whose races include a failed 2016 bid to unseat East Tennessee Congressman Chuck Fleischmann.
Dozens of law enforcement officers were on hand, from University of Tenessee police to Tennessee Highway Patrol officers. Security was tight as a perimeter was set up around Alumni Memorial Hall, where Tyler’s talk took place. Inside, a few protestors managed to get in along with some press. After Tyler’s remarks began hecklers and protesters were ejected, leaving a handful of audience members who appeared to be there to hear Tyler.
While Tyler is a self-described white nationalist and his talk was titled "White Nationalism: Fact vs. Fiction," accounts from inside indicated he didn't speak about race at all. Instead, he wondered aloud why there was so much controversy around his attendance and why the police presence was necessary.
Outside, Chris Irwin with the Community Law Office read parts of the 2017 law that the university says required them to allow the talk. But Irwin pointed out conflicting directives, including a provision that disallowed "free speech zones" which protestors seemed to be limited to as there was a security cordon preventing attendees from going up the hill to the auditorium.
Last week, interim UT Knoxville Chancellor Wayne Davis issued a statement that said in part, "I want to be clear: white nationalism is contrary to our values as a university—racism, anti-Semitism, and bigotry should have no place on Rocky Top. We care about our staff, faculty, and students. We aspire to create an environment free of hate, prejudice, and bigotry. No one renting space on our campus will stop us from pursuing that aspiration."