Petitions: Rittenhouse ‘ controversial figure ‘ who evokes school’s ‘ history of works of gun violence ‘
An impending Kyle Rittenhouse event at Kent State University should be canceled, according to two online petitions, alleging that the event is inappropriate given the institution’s record of “gun violence.”
They have garnered nearly 5, 000 names in recent months.
Rittenhouse is also accused of “involvement in politically motivated acts of cannon violence” by the petitions, who claim his presence did trouble “many of our majority communities.”
KSU’s Turning Point USA section is hosting the April 16 occurrence, the latest halt in the” Rittenhouse Recap” school loudspeaker trip.
In response to the requests, KSU’s TPUSA President Brady Seymour said to The College Fix,” Individuals can do whatever they want, but more power to them.”
Even though the TPUSA chapter has received some online threats to address the speech, some of which suggested adding eggs and “bricks” or “more,” Seymour said his organization believes the college will defend their freedom of speech, citing its statement that it will preserve the First Amendment.
KSU’s TPUSA book issued a statement defending free speech and warning would-be violators of school restrictions, citing “escalating discussion surrounding our future event”. Additionally, the chapter adopted a new admissions policy that mandates that “every attendee must present identification and contact information upon entry.”
Campus police did not directly respond to The Fix’s inquiry regarding specific threats connected to the incident.
” The safety of our community is the priority of Kent State’s Department of Public Safety, Police Services”, Sgt. Kent State Police Services Tricia Knoles spoke to The Fix. Police Services “knows, monitors, and assesses the safety of our community during campus events and responds accordingly.”
Other universities have expressed disapproval of the Rittenhouse Recap speaker tour. At Rittenhouse’s March 20 University of Memphis talk, campus activists reserved tickets for the event, only to disrupt it and leave, as The Fix reported. TPUSA members who left the event were also harassed by activists and heckled the UM chapter president.
Rittenhouse became a household name during his 2021 trial after shooting three people during the 2020 Kenosha, Wisconsin, Black Lives Matter riots. Rittenhouse, who killed two and wounded another, argued he fired in self- defense. Rittenhouse was cleared of all charges by the jury.
According to Seymour,” We have thoroughly read the school’s policies and understand where the university stands on upholding the First Amendment.” ” Anyone who obstructs someone else from exercising their First Amendment will be in violation of school policy, meaning stopping anyone from speaking, attending, or even entering the building”.
Seymour claimed that protests are planned outside the venue, but that he is unaware of “anything about stopping the event from taking place outside of the petitions.”
The March 14 petition has a goal of 5, 000 signatures. The petition calls Rittenhouse” a controversial figure who shot three men, two fatally,” and says that” these individuals were protesting the shooting of a Black man by a white police officer.” Nearly 3, 600 people have signed it.
It also cites KSU’s “painful history with gun violence”, including the 1970 Kent State Massacre, when Ohio National Guardsmen “fired into a crowd of Kent State University demonstrators, killing four and wounding nine students”.
The petition continues,” The decision to host an individual associated with such violence threatens to further divide us in these already tense times and is insensitive to our community’s past.” KSU” should be a place for growth and learning, not for propagating ideologies or divisive figures that might lead to more violence,” according to the statement.
The March 15 petition, which has received more than 1, 000 of 1, 500 signatures, also invokes the Kent State Massacre. It argues that Rittenhouse’s presence “would not make students feel like they were a part of a larger community and would certainly not promote diversity in our community.” It also highlights KSU’s commitment to “fostering diverse and inclusive communities.”
When people are the ones who are subject to the most hate and backlash, it is very interesting to me that people are saying holding this event will not foster a sense of inclusion and belonging,” Seymour told The Fix.
” We are simply hosting a speaker who has an interesting story”, Seymour continued. ” We invite everyone to come, as long as they do so peacefully, to create a sense of inclusion and belonging. We are not preventing anyone from attending this occasion.
According to the March 15 petition, KSU TPUSA’s support for freedom of expression is greater than the desire for diversity and inclusion. The chapter should “find a different venue for its event, ideally off- campus”, according to the petition.
The university does not condone or endorse an opinion, according to Emily Vincent, director of media relations at KSU. Vincent also referred to The Fix‘s reference to the March 19 news release that affirmed the university’s” commitment to freedom of expression as a core value.”
The release, quoting KSU president Todd Diacon,” stress]es ] another core Kent State value, perhaps the most important of our values, which is to ‘ treat others with kindness and respect.'”
The Fix emailed the national TPUSA and messaged Rittenhouse on Twitter on April 8 to ask for a response to the allegations, but it has not received a response.
MORE: UMemphis students disrupt Rittenhouse event, school accused of creating chaos
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