David Weigel at the Washington Independent interviewed Marcus Epstein, organizer of the “Race and Conservatism” event that has been labeled as a “Racist Forum.” He flatly denies allegations that have been made that James O’Keefe worked at the event or had any involvement in the event:
“I’ve made mistakes, which I paid for and addressed,” said Epstein, who has mostly ceased political activity since the 2009 revelation of his arrest in Georgetown. “I don’t want them to be used in false, guilt-by-association smears against others. I met James O’Keefe a number of times. It’s the Beltway — it’s a small circle. It’s the conservative movement. But he did not collaborate with me, definitely not on that event.”
Weigel was also at the event in question, and he confirms that the characterization currently being made that it was a racist rally or forum is misleading and false:
Epstein stood by the content of the event, describing it (accurately, in my view) as a debate, not a forum for Taylor. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the event,” said Epstein. “Jared Taylor has debated Queen Latifah and [anti-racist writer] Tim Wise.” At one point, remembered Epstein, Derbyshire laid into Taylor’s tactics and racism, calling him a “sower of discord” and remarking that “we know where sowers of discord end up” — that is, hell.
“I thought that was a bit extreme,” said Epstein, “but there’s nothing wrong with having a debate.”
Epstein concludes:
“I’m used to being smeared, and these guys have more or less successfully harmed my career, so I don’t see what else they could do to me,” said Epstein. “A lot of stuff they said about me wasn’t true, but I definitely made a few mistakes. I just don’t want anyone to use me to smear James O’Keefe.”