Kyle Rittenhouse’s speech at the University of Memphis took a turn for the worse when he walked off the stage after being questioned over his views as racist.
The event was originally met with a backlash that soon escalated into a protest of hundreds of people outside the UC Theater at the University of Memphis.
One protestor held a sign that read, “Put Rittenhouse behind bars instead of on the stage,” while another held a sign that read, “Killers don’t come here.” Rittenhouse gained notoriety in 2020 after shooting and killing two protesters and wounding another during a Black Lives Matter rally in Wisconsin. He was charged but acquitted in a trial in 2021.
Inside, people pressed Rittenhouse for his opinion on what he considered racist.
Social media, video captures Kyle Rittenhouse leaving University of Memphis
X, formerly known as Twitter, has seen a wave of posts from University of Memphis students protesting Rittenhouse Speech program on campus. Some posts showed videos of students walking away while Rittenhouse spoke, while others questioned his intentions.
In a video, Rittenhouse was asked if he considered some of the statements he made against black people to be racist. He refused to answer the question as there were chants of “desecration” from the audience. After this particular question, Rittenhouse is immediately escorted off the stage without saying anything.
Other videos posted on social media showed people booing him and walking out of the event on Wednesday night. Protestors outside celebrated after Rittenhouse left after spending about 30 minutes on stage and minimizing his appearance.
“Uptown Funk”, written by Mark Ronson, can be heard in the video as protesters sing “Don’t believe me, just watch” after Rittenhouse leaves.
Kyle Rittenhouse reacts to media articles of being ‘humiliated off stage’
In a 53-second video post on X, Rittenhouse talks about how “interesting” Memphis is and jokes about how the media was portraying his sudden departure from the stage. “Quick update. We returned safely!” Was the caption that came with the video.
“I think it’s ridiculous that a lot of the media is saying that we were booed offstage, when in fact we had a rough time,” Rittenhouse says in the video.
In the video from inside the UC Theater, Rittenhouse is being interrogated before walking off the stage to signal the audience that a hard cutoff time has been hit.
Why was Kyle Rittenhouse at the University of Memphis?
The student chapter of the conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA was the group that arranged for Rittenhouse to speak on Wednesday night.
The Turning Point USA chapter of the University of Memphis invited Rittenhouse to speak on campus, where he talked about his views regarding the Second Amendment and gun violence.
The University of Memphis was not sponsoring the event, but the school also said it was legally required to let Rittenhouse speak, in accordance with the First Amendment and Tennessee’s Campus Free Speech Act.
What is Turning Point USA?
Turning Point USA advocates for conservative politics on high school, college and university campuses across the country and brings speakers like Rittenhouse to these campuses to speak to the youth demographic.
“The mission of the organization is to identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of liberty, free markets, and limited government. Turning Point USA believes that every youth deserves a true free market Values ​​can be conveyed,” read the Turning Point website.
Who is Kyle Rittenhouse?
In August 2020, 17-year-old Rittenhouse made national headlines after shooting and killing two protesters and wounding a third in Kenosha, Wisconsin, who were protesting the shooting of a Black man by a white police officer.
Rittenhouse arrived in Kenosha with a semiautomatic rifle, which a friend had bought for him, as he was too young to purchase it legally. Rittenhouse came to Kenosha from Illinois, alleging that he was there to protect local businesses and serve as a physician.
Civil Rights Lawsuit:Civil rights lawsuit against Kyle Rittenhouse, Kenosha can move forward, federal judge rules
Rittenhouse was charged with five felonies, including two counts of first-degree intentional murder. He claimed self-defense and was acquitted of criminal charges in 2021, but became a divisive figure across the country.
Tammy Sawyer objects to Kyle Rittenhouse program, expresses ‘proud’ of University of Memphis protest
Tammy Sawyer, M of Alumnus and Show running for Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk, objected to Rittenhouse coming to the university campus when his speaking schedule was announced. On Wednesday, she posted on social media how “proud” she was of students taking a stand against Rittenhouse being there.
“I am proud of the students at the University of Memphis who organized resistance tonight, as well as the Black Student Association, the U of M NAACP, alumni and faculty. I couldn’t be prouder @uofmemphis Administration,” Sawyer wrote.
He encouraged people to not just use their voices to show support for the students.
He wrote, “If you contribute to U of M, earmark your dollars to support the Black Student Association when you donate. Our Black students need your support in so many ways.”
