Richard Spencer's expected visits to Michigan State University and the University of Michigan have sparked a campaign seeking to raise funds for various "anti-racist" causes as a form of retaliation to the presence of the white nationalist, MLive.com reported.
Since launching last week, the initiative has generated more than $6,100 in donations for a dozen Michigan nonprofits.
The "Have Your Speech and Eat It Too" campaign is spearheaded by a group of students, faculty and staff at the University of Michigan who said they were responding to the "systematic attack on college campuses by white supremacist provocateurs," according to an online fundraising campaign.
Spencer, who is the president of the white nationalist organization The National Policy Institute, is slated to speak at Michigan State University on Monday evening, WDIV-TV noted. He also has requested to speak at the University of Michigan, MLive.com said, but an event there hasn't been scheduled yet.
His controversial appearance has been met with backlash. "Have Your Speech and Eat It Too" organizers decided to use Spencer's appearance as an opportunity to do good.
"During an average appearance, Spencer spouts about 3,000 to 4,000 words," campaign organizers said, explaining that they intended to "transform each one of those words into money that will go to support a group of organizations that are doing vital anti-racist work in Michigan."
Among those benefitting from the initiative are organizations dedicated to providing shelter to at-risk LGBTQ teens in Detroit, supporting refugees and immigrants across the state and working on issues of food justice and security in the black community in Detroit.
Silke-Maria Weineck, a professor of German studies and comparative literature at the University of Michigan, said the message was clear.
"We think Spencer is a dangerous clown, but we can use his dangerous clownishness against him," said Weineck, according to MLive.com. "We take the hate he spreads seriously, but we do not take him seriously. He's a sad and silly man, but at least he can be useful for raising money to support men and women suffering from injustice, inequality, xenophobia and racist hate."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.