Update: July 2018.
We would like to apologize for wording in this initial public post that may have mischaracterized the panelist’s background and what happened at the panel. This was not a case of an outright Nazi sympathizer or alt-right infiltrator at WisCon, but rather a case of a conversation going badly awry amid deeply fraught political and emotional territory. There does not seem to have been any intent to promote Nazi ideology. For a fuller explanation, see this statement.The original blog post has been retained below.
During the Killable Bodies In SFF panel at WisCon this morning (Sunday), a panelist engaged in Nazi and Confederate apologia and also appeared to posit that disabled or injured people sometimes “have to be sacrificed.”
They continued this behavior even after the audience and other panel members expressed the harm this was causing them.
WisCon rejects these ideas. They are in conflict with our Code of Conduct. The panelist in question will be banned and asked to immediately leave convention spaces.
The relevant passage from the Code of Conduct is here:
Harassment includes: Verbal or written comments or displayed images that harmfully reinforce structures of oppression (related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, geographic origin, or class); deliberate intimidation; stalking; body policing (including gender policing in all bathrooms); unwelcome photography or recording; sustained disruption of talks or other events; inappropriate physical contact; and unwelcome sexual attention.
Please read the full Code of Conduct here.
If you or anyone you know are in need of any support following this experience, please contact us. We will be working to find folks who can provide emotional support to you.
ETA: This particular individual has been banned for WisCon 42. The decision as to whether this ban will be extended in the future will be determined by our Anti Abuse Team post-con. They will also make the determination of whether the individual will be named by WisCon/SF3 and what other details are appropriate to share. Should you have information to contribute, you are welcome to email safety@wiscon.net.
This blog post has been updated to clarify details.
Name names.
We have not yet yet spoken with the person in question directly. Once we have done so and we know the person is aware of the ban and knows to exit the space, we will discuss more details.
Adding (also above): The person exited the convention. The decision of whether or not WisCon/SF3 should name them as we discuss further details is in the hands of our Anti Abuse Team.