Kyle Rittenhouse is speaking at Western Kentucky University. What happened last time he spoke
Kyle Rittenhouse, who gained notoriety after fatally shooting two protesters and injuring another during a Black Lives Matter rally in Wisconsin in 2020, will speak at Western Kentucky University on March 27.
Rittenhouse seemingly cut short a similar appearance at the University of Memphis this week.
Will he do the same with the Kentucky appearance?
Who is Kyle Rittenhouse?
Rittenhouse was 17 in August 2020 when he fired an AR-15-style rifle during a protest of the shooting of a Black man by a white police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Having come from Illinois to get to Kenosha, alleging he was there to protect local businesses and serve as a medic, he shot and killed two demonstrators and injured a third.
Rittenhouse was charged with five felony counts, including two counts of first-degree intentional homicide. He claimed self-defense and was acquitted of criminal accusations in fall 2021, but became a divisive figure across the country.
Why is Kyle Rittenhouse coming to Western Kentucky University?
The event, "The Rittenhouse Recap," is sponsored by the campus chapter of Turning Point USA, an organization promoting conservative political values. On a website for the event, organizers wrote Rittenhouse would speak about "the importance of the Second Amendment and the lies of (the Black Lives Matter movement)."
The student group is not affiliated with WKU itself, a university spokesperson said.
What is Turning Point USA?
Turning Point USA advocates for conservative politics on high school, college and university campuses across the country and brings in speakers like Rittenhouse to talk to a younger demographic. "The organization’s mission is to identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government. Turning Point USA believes that every young person can be enlightened to true free market values," read Turning Point's website.
Kyle Rittenhouse abruptly left an appearance in Memphis this week.
Rittenhouse cut short a March 20 appearance at the University of Memphis, leaving after spending only about 30 minutes on stage when questioned about his views on what he considered racist.
A video posted on social media shows Rittenhouse being asked if he considered certain statements directed against Black people to be racist. He refused to answer the question as shouts of "deflection" came from the audience. After this particular question, Rittenhouse is quickly escorted off the stage without another word.
University of Memphis students protested Kyle Rittenhouse’s engagement.
Hundreds of University of Memphis students protested outside the UC Theatre as Rittenhouse spoke. Messages on signs included “Put Rittenhouse behind bars not a podium,” and “Murderers don’t belong here.”
Demonstrators celebrated after Rittenhouse left after only spending about 30 minutes on stage.
Kyle Rittenhouse: Watch speaker storm out of University of Memphis event amid questions
Kyle Rittenhouse reacts to the shortened appearance.
In a 53-second video post on X, Rittenhouse joked about how the media was portraying his abrupt departure from the stage.
"I think it's funny a lot of the media is saying we were booed off stage, in reality we did a hard cutoff time," Rittenhouse states in the video. Videos from inside the UC Theatre show Rittenhouse being questioned before he's ushered off stage without a word to signal to the audience that a hard cutoff time had been hit.
Who invited Kyle Rittenhouse to speak at the University of Memphis?
The student chapter of Turning Point USA arranged for Rittenhouse to speak about the second amendment and his views of gun violence. The University of Memphis wasn’t sponsoring the event, but the school also maintained that it was legally required to let Rittenhouse talk, per the First Amendment and Tennessee’s Campus Free Speech Act.
How you can see Kyle Rittenhouse at Western Kentucky University.
The event is free to attend and will take place in the Downing Student Union at 7 p.m.
John Klyce, Memphis Commercial Appeal; Joyce Orlando ,USA TODAY NETWORK; and Leo Bertucci ,Louisville Courier Journal, contributed to this report.
Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com:@cherylvjackson.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Kyle Rittenhouse speaking at Western Kentucky University
