Rittenhouse's appearance at a university generated hostility from a number of students but he remained positive, saying it had been "a great event."

Kyle Rittenhouse abruptly departed the stage during an appearance at the University of Memphis on Wednesday, after he was confronted about comments made by Turning Point USA founder and president Charlie Kirk.

Rittenhouse was invited by the college’s Turning Point USA chapter to speak at the campus. However, the event was met with backlash from a number of students who objected to Rittenhouse’s presence.

The 21-year-old gained notoriety in August 2020 when, at the age of 17, he shot and killed two men—Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, as well as injuring 26-year-old Gaige Grosskreutz—at a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

He said the three shootings, carried out with a semi-automatic AR-15-style firearm, were in self-defense. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest where the shootings took place was held after Jacob Blake, a Black man, was left paralyzed from the waist down after he was shot by a white police officer.

  • Captain Janeway@lemmy.world
    2·
    6 months ago

    Rittenhouse was invited to speak at Wednesday’s event by the university’s Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter. Founded in 2012, the non-profit promotes conservative politics at schools and college campuses.

    • jettrscga@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      6 months ago

      It’s insane that the only reason he was noticed and brought into their political organization was through murder shooting and killing people.

      That’s how gangs initiate people.

      Edit: removed “murder” so nobody whines about whether he lawfully drove to another state with a gun and shot people.

      • Wogi@lemmy.world
        2·
        6 months ago

        for the express purpose of intimidating people and hopefully getting the opportunity to shoot them in ‘self defense’