Columbia student defends his remarks about ‘white achievements’

He said he never “denigrated anyone’s race” because “every single person should love themselves and love their culture, and we should all be allowed to be proud of our heritage”.

The incident happened on campus. Von Abele was filmed saying: “We built modern civilization! White people are the best thing to ever happen to the world! We built the modern world!”

But the mainstream media continued to portray Von Abele as a “white supremacist” and “racist”.

As CNN reported on Tuesday, “When initially reached for comment, von Abele told CNN he would provide a statement but only if the network agreed, before seeing it, to run it in its entirely. CNN declined to do so.”

Von Abele is studying physics at the university and authored two books on quantum physics in 2015 and 2017 titled: Physics Reforged: The New Theory of Parallel Universes, Hidden Dimensions, and the Fringes of Reality and: Time and the Multiverse: Selected Writings on Novel Physical Theories.

This week, his books were ranked second and fourth in the best sellers list for quantum theory on Amazon.

“I am not a white supremacist or racist, nor do I subscribe to any views that support that ideology. I unequivocally denounce all groups that support racism,” he explained. “My reaction that evening grew out of my distaste for the overuse of the term ‘white privilege’ and similar divisive rhetoric as a means of dismissing views of others.”

He added: “As such, I would like to have my views be fairly considered in the public discourse, and not dismissed solely due to my race and gender.”

The heated exchange with other students began “when several students were accusing Trump supporters of encouraging sexual violence”.

When he explained that he was a Trump supporter and did not in any way encourage violence, sexual or otherwise, large group of students gathered around him and told him that he had no right to share his views on women as he is a white male with “white privilege”.

Von Abele said he became “offended” because he was “being held personally responsible for the historical actions” of all white people, the classic definition of racism. Moreover, he added: “I was tired of the divisive rhetoric that blames all the ills of society on white men.”

In the video, other students can be seen insulting him as a “degenerate” and giving him middle finger while simultaneously urging him to “say it one more time”.

Students threatened to “kick him” repeatedly while one assaulted him by shoving him in the face. This violent behaviour was not denounced by the mainstream media.

In the statement that CNN refused to publish, Non Abele noted: “I regret that I subsequently engaged in an exchange that was admittedly overzealous and was not the right venue to discuss the value of identity politics.”

He said he was “theatrically and sarcastically demonstrating that whites are not allowed to embrace their cultural achievements”.

He added: “The out-of-context video widely circulated was not representative of my general argument that evening, which was not that white men were solely responsible for the scientific accomplishments of the world, but instead that the great things western culture has accomplished throughout history should not be ignored to accommodate identity politics.”

He said while he was insulted and threatened, he remained nonviolent. “At no time did I shove, grab, or physically or verbally assault anyone, nor did I denigrate anyone’s race.”

Since this event, Von Abele however has “received credible threats” to his safety. He has also been harassed, and his personal information has been released.

He concluded that he hated no-one, but the “racially charged incident” is now being investigated by Columbia, who denounced his remarks.