President of College Republicans at WSU attended deadly Charlottesville protest
Aug 14, 2017, 8:30 AM | Updated: 10:28 pm
(File, AP Photo/Steve Helber)
(File, AP Photo/Steve Helber)
James Allsup has resigned his position as president of the College Republicans at Washington State University following criticism over his attendance of the “Unite The Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia on Saturday.
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Allsup confirmed with KREM TV in Spokane that he was at the rally. He says he is not racist and that he was there to cover the events for his YouTube channel. He also says he does not condone the violence but says all groups deserve freedom of speech.
“I would say the same thing for the Black Panthers … If you’re going to peacefully organize an event and peacefully go to the event, I think you should have the right to speak,” he said.
Allsup says he’s being unfairly targeted online, including on a Twitter account called “Yes, You’re Racist.”
The rally, attended by white nationalists and white-right groups in Virginia, turned deadly when a car slammed into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing one woman and injuring 19 others. At least 15 other injuries occurred during the rally.
A rally in Seattle was held Sunday, where alt-right protesters and counter-protesters clashed. At least three people were arrested.
