As a university community located in a state with the highest per capita instance of hate groups in the country, we recognize our responsibility to speak out against the traditions and present practice of white supremacy in all its forms from hate speech to homicide. Given the recent instances of leafletting and other white supremacist activity on our campus and across the state, we are compelled to raise our voices against these actions.
We also recognize and remain committed to the principle of free speech and the practice of civil discourse.
And so we express our unequivocal opposition to the principles of white nationalism and white supremacy that Steve Bannon has and continues to promote through his speeches, policy initiatives, and public writings.
While Mr. Bannon has chosen to present his divisive and damaging rhetoric in the context of our campus community, his views in no way represent our commitment to the full inclusion of all peoples of our state, country, and the international community in which we do our work. We together seek to create and share knowledge in the best traditions of full and free academic discourse.
We know we can do better as a scholarly community to pursue these values of full equity and inclusion. Mr. Bannon's visit is a reminder of all the work that we have yet to do and to which we will turn our collective energies.
Signed by these members of the University of Montana community (students, faculty, staff, administrators, supporters, and alumni):
