Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign stop at the Throwback Brewery, in North Hampton, N.H., Sept. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO
The NAACP has sent a letter to Michael D. Amiridis, president of the University South Carolina, demanding that the school cancel an upcoming campus event, slated for Sept. 18, that will feature right-wing extremist and Proud Boys founder, Gavin McInnes, in a “roast” of Vice President Kamala Harris.
The letter, sent Aug. 30 by NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, has since garnered more than 20,000 signatures, primarily from an online petition led by NAACP youth leaders. The petition reflects a surge in public outrage against the event and its leaders who have allegedly used racial tropes to boost attendance.
The NAACP also released a statement expressing disappointment at the university’s decision to host the event, stating that NAACP leadership remains “committed to ensuring the student and broader South Carolina community are protected from hateful rhetoric or actions.”
Johnson said he felt compelled to write the letter because of the “blatant sexist and racist nature of the event, the advertisement for it and the potential for violence on campus because of the proposed event.”
“Hate speech has long served as a weapon to undermine the progress of our nation,” Johnson said in the letter. “At a time where we are witnessing groundbreaking history, bad actors aim to cast a dark shadow on those very achievements. If South Carolina University’s leadership values their Black students, it’s only right they shut this event down.
“Our nation’s schools must remain havens for learning, not platforms for hate. It is imperative that the university takes swift action in this matter and protects the campus community from patterns of divisiveness and degradation.”
A full copy of the letter sent to President Amiridis can be found here.
While Amiridis did not respond to inquiries from The AFRO, a statement about campus speakers posted on the university’s website (dated Aug. 27), issued by the university president and Thad Westbrook, chair of the Board of Trustees, sheds some light on the university’s perspective.
“We have received your messages and understand your concerns about an upcoming speakers’ event at our campus,” the statement said. “This event is organized by a registered student group and it is not endorsed by the university….
“Censoring even the most hateful individuals and groups does not solve the problems we face in our society and instead provides them with a platform to win more publicity and support because their message was silenced…,” the statement continued. “Democracy requires active engagement and participation in the face of views we oppose. Let your voices be heard through peaceful civil discourse that generates constructive debates even amid the most hateful words or images you can imagine.”
Student group Uncensored America stands its ground
Sponsors of the event, Uncensored America, stated on their website www.uncensoredamerica.us that “The Roast of Cumala Harris with Milo & Gavin” will go on as scheduled.
McInnes, who in addition to his connection with Proud Boys also co-founded VICE magazine in 1994, will serve as one roast master. He will be joined by Milo Yiannopoulos, former congressional aide to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and chief of staff for Ye’s (formerly Kanye West) fashion company Yeezy.
According to its website, Uncensored America, founded in 2020, is a non-partisan, youth-driven, free speech organization dedicated to hosting honest and fun conversations with controversial figures to fight censorship and cancel culture.
“We believe in freedom of speech as it’s defined by the First Amendment. There are the obvious exceptions such as defamation, inciting violence, child pornography, etc. But our country doesn’t abuse free speech. It’s the opposite: We don’t talk to each other enough. That’s what we’re trying to change. We want more conversations, not less,” Uncensored America spokesperson Sean Semanko told the AFRO.
In response to objections from the NAACP and the online petition to cancel the event, Semanko said those critics lacked a sense of humor.
“The pearl clutching from the NAACP and others is beyond silly. They can’t take an obvious joke. They want to cancel comedy.
“It’s a comedy show. We want people to have fun. We want to bring joy to campus,” he said. “The only group people should be concerned about is Antifa (short for ‘anti-fascists’ – a term used to broadly define people whose political beliefs lean toward the left, often far left, but do not conform with the Democratic Party platform). They are the only ones who come to our events to cause trouble. We always advocate for peace.”
In October 2022, Fox News reported that Penn State University canceled an Uncensored America comedy show featuring comedian Alex Stein and McInnes, after a teenaged protester, during a campus wide protest, struck Stein with a projectile that was allegedly filled with bodily waste.
NAACP says it will not back down
Johnson, on behalf of the NAACP and those who continue to demand the cancellation of the roast, spoke with The AFRO on Sept. 4 and reiterated their concerns.
“We welcome an open dialogue between NAACP and University of South Carolina leadership. Our position remains clear – hate speech is not free speech. The promotional materials used to advertise this event and accompanying rhetoric that has spread on campus are not protected by the university’s Freedom of Expression and Access to Campus policy or the First Amendment. It also runs counter to the university’s Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment & Sexual Misconduct,” Johnson said.
He continued, “The NAACP does not speak for other institutions or elected officials. We advocate for Black America. Our youth leaders, who stand to be most directly impacted, have made their concerns clear in the drafted petition that has received over 20,000 signatures. We will continue to amplify their concerns and call attention to any attempts to endanger our young people and the broader South Carolina community.”
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Publish date : 2024-09-08 11:30:00
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