Texas A&M criticizes ‘alt-right’ leader invited to speak at school

Texas A&M University says it didn’t invite a leader of the “alt-right” movement who’s scheduled to speak at the school next month.

The campus newspaper The Battalion reports a former student invited Richard Spencer to speak. Spencer leads a group called the National Policy Institute and a leader of a movement seen as a mix of racism, white nationalism and populism.

A speech he gave last weekend in Washington, D.C. at an alt-right conference drew Nazi-style salutes from people in the audience.

A&M says Spencer’s views contradict the school’s core values, but he’ll likely be permitted to speak because officials say people can reserve campus space available to the public.

In a statement, the Anti-Defamation League says it’s confident Spencer’s message of bigotry will be rejected by the community.