A white nationalist who unsuccessfully ran for Chuck Fleischmann's Congressional seat in 2016 under the slogan "Make America White Again" is holding an event on the University of Tennessee-Knoxville's campus next week.

Rick Tyler, a member of the American Freedom Party now running to be president of the United States, according to Tyler's Facebook page, will speak at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Alumni Memorial Building, which is next to Neyland Stadium, on the topic of "White Nationalism: Fact or Fiction."

The American Freedom Party has been designated a "hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center, and is organized by Jamie Kelso, a former assistant to David Duke. Duke is a longtime leader of the Ku Klux Klan and former Republican Louisiana state representative.

Tyler's campaign also featured billboards in Polk County showing the White House displaying confederate flags with the slogan "I Have a Dream..."

UT is not sponsor of event

The event is not sponsored by the university or hosted by an organization affiliated with UT-Knoxville, according to a statement from interim Chancellor Wayne Davis.

"I want to be clear: white nationalism is contrary to our values as a university — racism, anti-Semitism and bigotry should have no place on Rocky Top," Davis wrote. "We care about our staff, faculty and students. We aspire to create an environment free of hate, prejudice, and bigotry. No one renting space on our campus will stop us from pursuing that aspiration."

Donde Plowman has been hired as chancellor, replacing Davis, but doesn't start until July 1. She has refused an interview with the News Sentinel until after she begins her new job at UT.

Safety and security efforts

The UT Police Department is "aware of the event and engaged in efforts to secure campus," Davis said.

Lola Alapo, UTPD spokeswoman, said UTPD was told about the event but "does not release details about security plans."

She continued, "We're committed to having a safe campus, no matter the event."

Security measures for any large on-campus event are similar to football games, and the clear bag policy will be in place, Alapo said.

Several buildings near the Alumni Memorial Building, where the event is being held, will be closed the day of the event.

No classes are being held during the time of the event, and Davis encouraged summer semester students on campus to "consider avoiding the area around Alumni Memorial Building Tuesday evening."

Student Life staff will be in the Stokely Hall multipurpose room on Tuesday evening to offer support for students during the event, according to Davis. He also encouraged students to download the LiveSafe app, which provides students access to 911 and UTPD.

"We have received a number of very good questions about how and why we are allowing this event to occur on our campus," Davis said. "UT has a building use policy that allows non-affiliated people or organization — including churches, civic groups, educational groups, and other organizations and businesses — to rent space on campus. Under state and federal law, UT cannot base its decisions about who can rent facilities based on viewpoint."

According to Tyler's Facebook post about he event, he will "deliver a compelling, controversial and challenging address that will shatter enduring myths that proliferate in contemporary America."

Tyler could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday morning.

White nationalist event last year

Last year, in February, white nationalist group the Traditionalist Worker Party and its leader, Matthew Heimbach, spoke in Dabney-Buehler Hall. About 250 protesters gathered on campus and about 45 people attended Heimbach's talk.

At the time, then-Chancellor Beverly Davenport said Heimbach and the Traditionalist Worker Party "weren't invited."