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.

  • DaBabyAteMaDingo@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    You have to be an expert to be invited to speak at places? Someone should tell the flat earthers.

    A more serious answer is that Rittenhouse faced a trial that gained notoriety around the world. An incident that occurred at a protest/riot at the height of the BLM movement. It was seen by many as blatant murder and to others it was self-defense, making the outcome of the case very personal to millions of people. So why would you invite someone like Rittenhouse, the defendant in a historic trial, to speak at an event? Hmmm 🤔

    • CileTheSane@lemmy.ca
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      8 months ago

      It was seen by many as blatant murder and to others it was self-defense, making the outcome of the case very personal to millions of people.

      So makes as much sense as inviting the killer of George Floyd to speak. Or OJ Simpson.

      Whatever the topic of conversation, surely they can find someone with some actual expertise on the topic instead of just someone whose claim to fame is being charged with a crime?

      Getting charged for robbing a convenience store and avoiding punishment doesn’t make me a good choice to give a speech to people, unless that speech is “how to get away with robbing a convenience store.”

      • DaBabyAteMaDingo@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        So makes as much sense as inviting the killer of George Floyd to speak. Or OJ Simpson

        Derek Chauvin was charged and convicted, had he been acquitted of any charges, you bet your ass he would’ve been doing speeches for the alt right group. OJ has literally done speeches (not pertaining to acting or football) after his trial and gained a huge amount of notoriety for that questionable ruling. Why would you prove my point like this? 🤣 Being a person of interest doesn’t just mean you’re an expert an a given topic, it could just be that you have something interesting to say and have a story people want to hear. And Rittenhouse’s story is pretty interesting, wouldn’t you say so?

        Whatever the topic of conversation, surely they can find someone with some actual expertise on the topic instead of just someone whose claim to fame is being charged with a crime?

        Do you even know the subject of these speeches? Why would you assume Rittenhouse doesn’t have the experience to talk about said topic? What if it was about being in one of the most famous cases of all time? 🤔

        Getting charged for robbing a convenience store and avoiding punishment doesn’t make me a good choice to give a speech to people, unless that speech is “how to get away with robbing a convenience store.”

        Please don’t tell me this is supposed to be a real question. You understand the difference between a typical felony charge and the killing of two individuals and wounding another during a civil right protest, right? Not to mention the precedent it will set in future self-defense cases. This comment is absurd.

        • CileTheSane@lemmy.ca
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          8 months ago

          Derek Chauvin was charged and convicted, had he been acquitted of any charges, you bet your ass he would’ve been doing speeches for the alt right group.

          You’re making my point for me. When these people get booked to speak it speaks volumes about the people booking them and the people going to listen to them.

          What if it was about being in one of the most famous cases of all time?

          Then a lawyer, a legal expert of some kind, would be a better choice than the guy sobbing on the stand that apparently didn’t understand “if I go to this place and bring a gun I might end up shooting somebody.”

          You understand the difference between a typical felony charge and the killing of two individuals and wounding another during a civil right protest, right?

          Yup, that’s why if it would be absurd to invite someone to speak for being charged with robbing a store, then it is insane to invite someone to speak for being charged with the killing of two individuals and wounding another.

          • DaBabyAteMaDingo@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            You’re making my point for me. When these people get booked to speak it speaks volumes about the people booking them and the people going to listen to them.

            I can’t say that some individuals aren’t praising Rittenhouse for what he did, which is odd behavior, but what he did wasn’t illegal and was justified in the eyes of the law. I haven’t defended those entities, such as Turning Point or Daily Wire, whatsoever - just merely challenging your feigned incredulity about why someone would want to have him speak or appear as a guest in their show. And like you said “it speaks volumes about them” which I agree with. Doesn’t necessarily mean anything about the individual they book.

            Then a lawyer, a legal expert of some kind, would be a better choice than the guy sobbing on the stand that apparently didn’t understand “if I go to this place and bring a gun I might end up shooting somebody.”

            Again, I don’t know what you’re arguing here. You don’t like Rittenhouse, some people do and they want to listen to him talk. I know you understand why someone would like to hear this kid speak - you and I don’t like it or really get it but I don’t give a shit. Why do you care so much?

            Yup, that’s why if it would be absurd to invite someone to speak for being charged with robbing a store, then it is insane to invite someone to speak for being charged with the killing of two individuals and wounding another.

            This is so sad, dude. Do I really have to restate the importance of this case? We can have a good conversation but you’re just trying to win a dumb internet debate - and failing.

            Let me simplify it lil bro:

            1. me no likey Rittenhouse but me no care
            2. he involve in mucho famous court case
            3. he so popular and some people, good and bad, want to hear he talk
            4. he be innocent so he no murder no body, he self defensed.
            5. you no likey outcome of case? 2bad so sad. U objectively wrong 🤷‍♀️
            • CileTheSane@lemmy.ca
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              8 months ago

              Back to your original comment

              before we start losing more people due to your virtue signaling bull crap 😂

              And I made the simple point that having Rittenhouse as a speaker is far louder “virtue signaling bull crap” than anyone calling him a murderer.

              Why do you care so much?

              Says the guy responding with multiple paragraphs.

              you’re just trying to win a dumb internet debate

              No, I’m just making a straight forward point. The fact that you think this is something to “win” really explains a lot.

              Let me simplify it lil bro:

              1. me no likey Rittenhouse but me no care
              2. he involve in mucho famous court case
              3. he so popular and some people, good and bad, want to hear he talk
              4. he be innocent so he no murder no body, he self defensed.
              5. you no likey outcome of case? 2bad so sad. U objectively wrong 🤷‍♀️

              Ya, I’m not going to bother trying to parse any of that.