In hopes of nipping the event in the bud, we moved to organize a phone zap, targeted at ASU president Michael Crow and the venue originally hosting the event. Despite the student body and broader community taking to the phones and emails en-masse, ASU’s response was predictable. Regardless of the threat it posed towards marginalized students and the widespread opposition to its continuation, the event would not be cancelled. Michael Crow himself stated via email, “Jared Taylor is one of many people today who exploit public forums of all types to engage in intentionally destructive and divisive rhetoric solely for the [s​​​​​​​ic] self-serving and attention getting purposes,” but that ASU was not able to refuse him a platform, due to restrictions placed upon them by state laws regulating the actions of public universities.

We find this justification to be flimsy, at best. ASU has refused speakers, despite concerns around so-called free speech, for several reasons, including the example of Mik Jordahl, who was banned from speaking due to his support of the anti-apartheid BDS movement and his refusal to sign a form stating he would not advocate for a boycott against Israel. It is clear to us that ASU picks and chooses who, exactly, receives the benefit of free speech on campus. They may find white supremacists somewhat distasteful to their liberal sensibilities, but they are acceptable guests, unlike those opposing ongoing genocide, even non-violently.