Kyle Rittenhouse Sparks Controversy at University Event Amid Student Protests

Kyle Rittenhouse, acquitted of fatal shootings during 2020 civil unrest in Wisconsin, faced intense backlash from students during a University of Memphis event on Wednesday, March 20.

Rittenhouse attended at the request of the university’s Turning Point USA Chapter to discuss the Second Amendment and share his perspectives on gun violence and the 2020 incident. However, the majority of students protested his presence, leading Rittenhouse to depart the event prematurely, reportedly spending only 30 minutes on stage.

Videos circulating on social media, notably X (formerly Twitter), showed demonstrators holding signs and chanting slogans like “No Justice, no peace.” One placard read “Murderers don’t belong here,” while another urged to “Put Rittenhouse behind bars, not a podium.”

Students participating in the protest aimed to occupy space and counter what they viewed as harmful ideologies, as one student explained to ABC24.

The University of Memphis defended Rittenhouse’s right to speak under the First Amendment, emphasizing the importance of diverse viewpoints in maintaining an open and inclusive campus environment.

Prior to the event, the university urged students to remain peaceful and respectful, regardless of their opinions on Rittenhouse’s invitation.

Reports surfaced of flyers distributed at the event with the message “9MM beats 911 every time.” Additionally, a video on X depicted protesters booing and questioning Rittenhouse during the event.

Rittenhouse responded with a video on X, denying claims of being booed off stage and describing the event as “great.”

In 2020, Rittenhouse, then 17, attended a Black Lives Matter event in Kenosha, Wisconsin, armed with a semi-automatic rifle. He was acquitted of killing two individuals and injuring another after pleading self-defense.

Following his acquittal, Rittenhouse appeared in an interview with NewsNation, expressing regret for attending the rally but maintaining his actions were in self-defense.

Rep. Tom Massie, R-Ky., voiced support for Rittenhouse, praising his sense of civic duty.