Description: This article has been updated to note that Senator Justin Wadsak (R-Tucson) was incorrectly listed as a guest speaker on the event flyer. I have never been invited to an event with this lineup.
Republican officials Monday distanced themselves from an upcoming Republican college event linked to a prominent white supremacist and self-described Holocaust denier as a keynote speaker.
A flyer promoting the University of Arizona Republican Coalition annual convention features Nick Fuentes as the event’s keynote speaker. Mr. Fuentes is a political commentator who has met with former President Donald Trump and rapper Kanye West, and often makes anti-Semitic remarks online and on his “America First” talk show. has been widely criticized by other conservative public figures.
The event flyer also featured speakers from the Maricopa County Republican Party, Pima County Republican Party, Yavapai County Republican Party, and others. Several Republican officials, including Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, disputed the fact that the party appeared to support Fuentes. All three groups admitted later that day that they had nothing to do with the event and were “surprised” to hear about it.
“#MCRC has never endorsed, sponsored or promoted the upcoming 30th July Collegiate Republican Convention. is not allowed,” Maricopa County Republican Speaker Craig Berland said in a statement posted on Twitter.
Scottsdale Republican Rep. Alexander Collodin and former State Rep. Adam Kwasman also raised questions about how the college-Republican coalition portrayed the event. They were the first to share that the county party was not involved.
“Nick Fuentes is a vile Nazi sympathizer who has no place in Conservative or Republican politics. Orit Kwasman said in a statement.
Fuentes’ various social media accounts have been banned for violating hate speech policies, including YouTube, Twitch, Reddit, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.of chicago tribune According to a report in 2021, some financial services such as PayPal, Venmo and Patreon also banned his account.
Corodin responded to Arizona State University’s College Republicans United Group on Twitter, which called Fuentes a “noticeable POS” and criticized “RINOS” for trying to cancel the event.
“I’m not trying to cancel the event, I’m just trying to keep my beloved Republican Party from getting that brush dirty. If you guys want to hear Fuentes, you have the right to, but Please stay away from us,” Corodin wrote to ASU CRU on Twitter.
“QAnon Shaman” Jake Chansley, who was also listed as a headliner speaker, expressed surprise at the announcement.
“Okay, let’s get started, what do you mean? When I agreed to speak at an event at the College Republicans United in Arizona, I decided to share the stage with someone who wanted a wife of 16 years.” I didn’t think it was going to be.Should I withdraw or should I have an event to blow this bastard out of the water and expose the false prophet?” he wrote on Twitter.
Chansley was a notorious mobster during the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot, and was photographed wearing face paint and a headdress inside the Senate floor after the attack. CRU described him in a leaflet as a “J6 political prisoner”.
Kevin DeKuyper, a founding member of the National CRU, appeared to have anticipated the backlash from the event, tweeting on July 7 after the event was announced that his group said, “The establishment censors conservatives.” While we’re at it,” he said, providing a platform for conservatives. The group also criticized the Republican Party, saying that “the Republican Party routinely forges ties with gays and we are told to accept that as part of the Big Tent Strategy.”
Senator Justin Wadsak (R, Tucson) was listed as a speaker at the event two months ago, but tweeted Tuesday that he had never been invited to an event with the line-up and was mistakenly included in the flyer. I said sorry. US Rep. Eli Crane (R-Arizona) is also not listed as a speaker or supporter.
Wadsak did not respond to a request for comment.
Other speakers and advocates cited include the Prescott John Birch Society, exiled Rep. Liz Harris and former Rep. John Fillmore, both of whom voted early in Arizona, It sought to slash the number of polling places in each state while banning most absentee and mail-in ballots. county.
Fuentes is also the founder of the America First Political Action Conference, where Senator Wendy Rogers (R, Flagstaff) delivered a remote address at the February 25, 2022 event.
During the event, Mr Rogers said political opponents and “traitors” should be subject to the “gallows”. She was later denounced by the state Senate for these comments. She also praised Fuentes during the event, saying, “He’s the most persecuted man in America.”
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