COLUMBIA, S.C. — Some groups and lawmakers continue to call for the University of South Carolina to cancel a controversial visit that's set to take place at the Russell House.
The September 18th event is being hosted by the USC chapter of an organization called Uncensored America, which says it promotes free speech, as is billed as a roasting of Vice-President and Democratic Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris. The featured speakers for the event are Milo Yiannopoulos and Gavin McInnes, two men who've been accused in the past of using hate speech on multiple occasions. McInness also is a founder of the group the Proud Boys, which had several of its members charged in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The news has sparked concerns among alumni, students and state leaders calling the visit inappropriate that it shouldn't be allowed on campus.
State Representative Leon Howard, a Democrat from Richland County, said he and other lawmakers have sent letters to the school saying the speech will send a wrong message to USC students.
"They [the Proud Boys] have demonstrated being a hate group, they’ve demonstrated violence," Howard said. "For a flagship college like USC who pride themselves on diversity or so they say, I cant see why they can't stand up and be leaders and tell the Proud Boys there is no place for them on that campus.”
In a statement to students posted online, USC's President Dr. Michael Amiridis said the school does not endorse the event and said the school's creed encourages students to "discourage bigotry." However, Amiridis went on to state that, "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."
Several students expressed their disappointment in the university’s decision, including sophomore Laila Jones, who said when she first heard about the visit didn't believe it and was disgusted that the school wouldn't stop the event.
“There should be a line drawn to protect students’ feelings, especially feeling safe, like how can you feel safe on a campus if they are letting certain groups come in.”
Jada Ocean, a senior at USC, says she is worried about the aftermath herself, as a black student, and others could potentially face after the visit. “Some people are easily influenced by words so whatever they hear at this event may reflect that unto us as a whole," she added.
News19 did reach out to Uncensored America with some questions but they did not respond before publication.