White Supremacist Rally Organizer Banned From UVA

Jason Kessler is accused of hateful cyber-threats and bullying
By Janet Cromley,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 28, 2018 11:07 AM CDT
UVA Bans Deadly Rally Organizer From Campus
The University of Virginia has banned Jason Kessler, the main organizer of a deadly white nationalist rally at the school, from its campus.   (Zack Wajsgras/The Daily Progress via AP)

The University of Virginia has issued a no-trespass warning to the organizer of last summer’s deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, reports the New York Times. The warning effectively bans Jason Kessler from the campus for up to four years, per the Daily Progress. The move follows reports that Kessler, a Charlottesville resident and UVA graduate, was threatening and harassing students and others online. It also follows two incidents at the school’s law library. According to the Washington Post, Kessler, who is not currently enrolled at the school, visited the library April 18 and was met by students and others holding up signs that read "Murderer" and "Blood on Your Hands." But that alone didn't trigger Kessler's UVA ban.

The next day, law school students gathered at a town hall meeting to express anger and frustration that Kessler was allowed to use the library, per the Post. A week later, Kessler returned to the library and was again met by protesters, one of whom was asked to leave by a school administrator; the protester was arrested, charged with trespassing, and banned indefinitely from campus, per the Post. After the second incident, law school Dean Risa Goluboff ordered that only students, faculty, and staff would have access to the library. Her highest priority was "to ensure the physical safety and security of our community," she writes in an email. Kessler denies the allegations and says he will fight the ban. (More Jason Kessler stories.)

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