BALTIMORE — A Jared Taylor speaking engagement that had been scheduled for March 9 at Salisbury University has not been rescheduled after the school postponed the event last week, citing safety concerns after hundreds raised objections on social media.

Salisbury University, the Maryland GOP and civil rights leaders all condemned Taylor as an extremist, while the event organizer said hosting the speaker was a matter of free speech.

Taylor had a simple message for those who said they felt threatened by his views: “Grow up.”

“They should never ‘feel threatened’ by ideas,” Taylor told The Baltimore Sun. “They are not 3-year-olds who have just been told there is no tooth fairy. Or maybe they are.”

Organized by the Maryland Federation of College Republicans, the event had been titled “Can the American Race Problem Be Solved?” A flyer advertising the event described Taylor as “The Godfather of the Alt Right” and promoted his 2011 book “White Identity.”

“White identity is a racial identity like those taken for granted by people of any other race,” Taylor said. “Ask what being Black means to a Black person or being Asian means to an Asian. Why would you expect a different answer from me?”

Taylor said his views are “in accord with biology, history, and human nature, and are morally unimpeachable.” He rejected the notion that he is a white supremacist.

“A white supremacist is a white person who wants to rule over people of other races. I have no such desire, nor have I ever met anyone who did,” he said. “‘White supremacy’ is a historical term that has no relevance today. People use ‘white supremacist’ as the vilest possible insult for a white person — like calling a Black person the N-word.”

Asked whether he believes different races are fundamentally unequal, Taylor replied: “There are no two people, even identical twins, who are fundamentally equal. Races are clearly different. I leave it to others to decide if they think those differences amount to inequality.”

Taylor also denied that the event was meant to be provocative.

“I have no desire to provoke anyone. Why would anyone think that?” he said. “I have a point of view held by many people in the United States. If students have not heard it, all the more reason to come to my talk.”

Asked what responsibility he has for how others might use his ideas, Taylor said, “I have arrived at my views after decades of study and reflection. I wish everyone in the world shared them.”

“If you are outspoken in your belief that oil companies are damaging the planet, and someone throws a bomb into Exxon-Mobil headquarters, were you responsible? Should you change your views? If you are outspoken in your criticism of ‘white supremacy’ — whatever that is — are you responsible if someone kills me?” Taylor said.

School officials on Monday told The Sun the event has not yet been rescheduled, adding that, as a state agency, the college “cannot discriminate against outside agencies wishing to pursue space reservations on campus, assuming all legal, financial, insurance, and safety considerations are met.”

A statement issued by Salisbury University last week condemned Taylor and distanced the institution from the event.

“Salisbury University does not endorse, sponsor, or support the views of Mr. Taylor or the event being organized. Mr. Taylor is widely known for extremist rhetoric that is fundamentally inconsistent with the University’s core values of respect, equity, and inclusion,” university officials said.

However, the university also said that as a public institution, it must uphold constitutional protections for speech, even when those views conflict with campus values.

Maryland Republican Party Chairwoman Nicole Beus Harris said the state party had no role in organizing the event and condemned Taylor’s views.

“The Maryland Republican Party was not involved in organizing next week’s MD FCR event or selecting the speaker,” Harris said in a statement. “The Maryland FCRs are not voting members of the MDGOP, and there is no place for racism in our party. We unequivocally condemn the advertised event and the speaker’s despicable views.”

Local civil rights leaders also questioned whether the event had any academic purpose. Monica Brooks, chair of the Wicomico County NAACP, said she believed the appearance was designed more to generate controversy than to foster meaningful discussion.

“In academic institutions, an exchange of ideas benefits critical thinking. However, this has absolutely no academic purpose,” Brooks said. “Its purpose is to create controversy and get views.”

Students and community members had planned protests before the university postponed the event.

Edie Young, a College Democrats student government representative, organized a gathering intended to provide a space for students to express their concerns.

“We knew the situation bothered a lot of people. When I first heard the news, I was bothered too,” Young said. “I’m glad that if the event had gone forward, we would have been ready to hold space for students … I encourage students to use their voices in the future, because your voice always matters. Don’t be afraid to speak up.”

Colin McEvers, chairperson of the Maryland Federation of College Republicans, said the event was postponed rather than canceled and expressed hope it could be rescheduled later this spring.

“Some folks seem to think the postponement is a cancellation — they will soon find out that the First Amendment is much more important than their feelings, and that Salisbury University, as a government-funded institution, cannot suppress any form of speech,” McEvers said.

Taylor said he believes the event will eventually take place.

“I believe the talk will take place,” he said. “After the obligatory fulminations, the administration evokes the First Amendment, so it’s unlikely to ban me outright.”

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