Preparing for Kyle Rittenhouse talk at WKU: What police have planned
With Kyle Rittenhouse scheduled to speak Wednesday evening at Western Kentucky University, supporters and protesters of the man — who fatally shot two men and injured another as a teen during a 2020 police violence protest in Wisconsin — are expected to be at the venue.
The event at Downing Student Union is sponsored by the school's Turning Point USA chapter. It's the latest stop on a high-profile tour across the region that has drawn strong reactions.
After Rittenhouse’s stop last week at the University of Memphis saw the speaker drowned out by protesters during a brief appearance at a campus hall, and some heated confrontations following, police are planning to deal with a potential clash at WKU.
Kyle Rittenhouse: What happened when he spoke at the University of Memphis
How is WKU handling security for the Kyle Rittenhouse appearance?
"It is a concern. We're hoping that it (won't) be like that here at WKU," campus Police Chief Mitchell said Friday. "We're hoping it'll be more peaceful than that, so we're just trying to make sure we have enough folks in place ... to make sure that tempers don't flare."
WKU Police will be on hand, he said, along with Kentucky State Police, Bowling Green Police and officials from the Warren County Sheriff's Office. They're hoping for a peaceful night, Walker said.
Protests are likely at the Kyle Rittenhouse WKU speech
The Bowling Green/Warren County branch of the NAACP and branch President Ryan Dearbone condemned the event last week. Support groups, such the Bowling Green Freedom Walkers, are planning a demonstration during Rittenhouse's speech.
"The essence of divisive rhetoric is what he's going to speak about," Dearbone told The Courier Journal. "I was just saddened and disgusted that a group would think that he would be a good person to bring to campus.
"There are a majority of students that don't want him on campus, and it's not politically driven. It's simply because they don't want a person like that on their campus spewing rhetoric that is dangerous and divisive," Dearbone said.
What will Kyle Rittenhouse speak about at WKU?
Turning Point USA WKU President Cade Holcombe said he doesn't know what Rittenhouse will cover when he speaks. A Turning Point USA page promoting the event and tickets said the speaker will cover "the importance of the Second Amendment and the lies of (Black Lives Matter)."
WKU is not a sponsor of the Kyle Rittenhouse appearance
WKU is not sponsoring the event, the school said in a statement provided by spokesperson Jace Lux, and the space was reserved by a student group through the same process other organizations use.
Kyle Rittenhouse abruptly left an appearance in Memphis last 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 was 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.
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: How WKU police are preparing for Kyle Rittenhouse talk
