WSU students piece together Charlottesville

As the world at once moves forward from and remains fixated on the aftermath of violence and death Saturday in Charlottesville, Va., some Washington State University students are still piecing together the facts and one of their classmates' part in the ill fated "Unite the Right" rally.

A wave of media and social media platforms throughout Washington state and beyond were quick to identify WSU College Republicans President James Allsup as one of those marching alongside white supremacist, Neo Nazi, alt-right and white nationalist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan.

Video of Allsup rushing to direct traffic for Richard Spencer, the president of a self-identified "organization dedicated to the heritage, identity, and future of people of European descent in the United States, and around the world," and referring to confederate flags as symbols of heritage quickly found its way to the Palouse. This, and a call from the National Committee of College Republicans for those who share the views of Unite the Right resign from leadership posts within the organization, was followed by Allsup's resignation.

Allsup was questioned in connection with a racist video that surfaced online the week prior to 2017 graduation and received widespread media coverage after he and the campus group erected a "Trump Wall" on campus in November.

While free speech is an important right, students on campus Tuesday agreed certain antics can lead to an erroneous understanding that all Republicans are racist.

Avila Reznowski, a WSU student and self-identified Republican, said within the past year she has been shunned by friends she had known her entire life when they discovered her political leanings.

"But I'm not like that," she said, referencing those who took part in the Unite the Right rally and other such displays.

Steven Linstad, a criminal justice major at WSU, said for the rally at Charlottesville and those who took part in it, the issue all comes back to free speech, whether or not it's appropriate.

"They were just exercising their freedom of speech and that's one of the most American things you can do," he said. "Everyone is entitled to their opinion, even if it's an outdated opinion."

Senior Sara Adams agreed with her classmates on the subject of free speech, but she said violence is where a line drawn must be drawn, especially since it's impossible to exercise free speech without harming someone emotionally.

Adams said she prefers to focus on love.

"Something we always have on our hearts is spreading love because that's what God does," she said.

Adams said she has more to learn about the events in Charlottesville and their connection to the WSU College Republicans.

"Information is so fluid," she said. "There's so many different angles. It's a giant puzzle."

Although the violence of Unite the Right is in the past, its ripples will continue to affect the university, much as the disquiet of election year has.

A march protesting white supremacy has been scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday at Beasley Coliseum, and the fall semester will mark the beginning of a university initiative announced over the summer that aims to involves students, faculty, staff and administration in creating a more welcoming WSU.

Shanon Quinn can be reached at (208) 883-4636, or by email to squinn@dnews.com.