House Majority Leader Eric Cantor canceled a speech on income inequality at Wharton this afternoon, after the school informed his office of the attendance policy for the event late Thursday.
When the speech was scheduled earlier this year, the school agreed the event would be open to press and those affiliated with UPenn. Last night, Cantor’s office was informed that the first 300 people to arrive at the event would be admitted, regardless of affiliation — and campus security was welcoming Occupy Philly protesters to campus. Approximately 500 to 1,000 protesters had planned on marching to the campus Friday to protest Cantor’s appearance.
In a statement to the Daily Pennsylvanian, Cantor spokeswoman Laena Fallon wrote:
“The Office of the Majority Leader was informed last night by Capitol Police that the University of Pennsylvania was unable to ensure that the attendance policy previously agreed to could be met. Wharton is a educational leader in innovation and entrepreneurship, and the Majority Leader appreciated the invitation to speak with the students, faculty, alumni, and other members of the UPENN community.”
The full text of the speech can be read here.
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