Black History Month posters covered up at University of Tennessee with ones referencing Hitler

The University of Tennessee's president said vandals at the Chattanooga campus have tried to cover up posters for black history month with ones referencing Adolf Hitler. The white nationalist group the Traditionalist Workers Party has advertised an event at the Knoxville campus, but University of Tennessee system President Joe DiPietro said in a statement that the group was not invited to appear on campus.

"The ugly reality is, extremist groups are actively organizing, targeting colleges and universities in an attempt to be heard and to grow their ranks," DiPietro said in a statement. "And now, two of our own campuses—the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga—are being targeted."  

DiPietro said in a statement Thursday that there's no place for hate, racism and violence at the university's campuses or facilities. He also said the university respects and upholds free speech rights, which history has shown can include ignorant, repulsive speech.