There is currently a heated debate surrounding freedom of speech at the University of Memphis.
An event organized by Turning Point USA will showcase Kyle Rittenhouse, the young man who was cleared of all accusations after shooting three individuals – resulting in the death of two – during the unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The jury determined that his actions were in self-defense. Rittenhouse is scheduled to give a speech on March 20th at the publicly funded institution.
“I look forward to coming out to Memphis and seeing you all there,” he wrote on X.
Black Lives Matter is planning a demonstration and has pledged to disrupt the Turning Point gathering. Tami Sawyer, a former Shelby County Commissioner and a vocal black activist, who is currently campaigning for a political position, is one of the most prominent detractors.
“This is despicable,” she wrote on X. “What are you recapping, Kyle? How to kill people and get away with it? How to grift your way into fame by being a racist?”
Sawyer is furious that Rittenhouse, a Caucasian individual, is giving a speech in a city where the majority of the population is African American.
“A school in a city that is majority Black. You’re allowing a racist and murderer to speak on campus,” she wrote on X. “Please help me understand this happening in this 65% black city.”
“We can’t take away free speech. Matheny told KWAM. “We’re supposed to encourage all ideologies at a campus of diversity as everyone claims it is … but diversity means including conservative voices thoughts and ideals as well.”
Sawyer then lashed out on social media by issuing an ominous threat: “I just hope that @uofmemphis knows that if they don’t shut this down, the people will.”
Sawyer’s dubious post becomes quite comprehensible when considering that Memphis was recently designated as one of the most crime-ridden cities in the country.
