Kyle Rittenhouse, who at 17-years-old killed two people and injured another after traveling to Kenosha, Wisconsin in 2020 to "protect businesses" during Black Lives Matter protests that erupted after the police shooting of Jacob Blake, is now the author of a book who goes on speaking tours.
But his current college speaking tour is being hit by outrage as he spreads messages including telling students to carry arms on campus, according to a report.
Rittenhouse became a hero in some right-wing circles and regularly voices his support for the Second Amendment. The group that sponsors his public appearances is Turning Point USA, which told USA Today that Rittenhouse is requested to make appearances by individual chapters of the group and that his tours are not nationally organized.
Rittenhouse claimed self-defense in the Kenosha shootings and was ultimately acquitted of all charges by a jury. But according to the man who survived being shot by Rittenhouse, he has "used every moment to gloat and to make light of taking life."
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"As if that were not enough, Kyle has embraced and been embraced by those who peddle hateful rhetoric, who believe in nationalism that excludes those who do not look like or think like them, and who have sought to amplify a troubling desire for violence against supposed political, cultural, and religious enemies," Paul Prediger, who was shot and injured, told USA Today.
Rittenhouse's speaking events, where he encourages young people to exercise their rights to bear arms, spark large protests and have been met with calls for him to be blocked from venues, which in turn triggers debates about free speech.
"Every American has a constitutional right to bear arms, and it should not be infringed by a college campus," Rittenhouse has said.
During a speech at Kent State, Rittenhouse encouraged students to carry guns at school.
"We have these blue boxes that are on the campus — we've all seen them, you push a button, it calls the police, and you get connected to a dispatcher," he said. "How long does it take a cop to show up, though? When somebody is trying to kidnap you or somebody is threatening your life, is that the quickest option to be able to protect yourself?"
"What makes me really scared, and I get really upset that people, especially young campus students, aren't allowed to carry firearms, just because I'm scared that what happens if these Hamas, Palestinian terrorists come to the U.S. and try to attack us?" Rittenhouse said.
"Are we supposed to be left defenseless? Are you supposed to be left defenseless because you're not allowed to have a gun in your dormitory?"
According to USA Today, there have been protests at every stop of Rittenhouse's speaking tour, with some of the protesters holding signs that called for Rittenhouse to be sent to prison. One protester accused college campuses that allow Rittenhouse to speak and Turning Point USA of participating in "stochastic terrorism" – the incitement of violence through public demonization of a person or group.
During one speaking event in at The University of Memphis in March, protesters were so disruptive that Rittenhouse left the stage before he was done speaking.
"We cannot ban speech because it would go against a core value and because of well-established laws governing free speech on public university campuses,” Kent State said in a statement provided to USA TODAY. “Upholding the First Amendment rights of free speech and peaceful assembly for all, the university has a long history of allowing peaceful dialogue from all points of view, including those whom some may feel are offering different and/or sometimes controversial opinions."
Read more at USA Today.