Students Slam Dem Lawmakers Who Demanded University Cancel Conservative Speaker Events
Democratic Pennsylvania lawmakers are demanding a state university cancel three conservative speaker events set to occur this semester because of alleged “hate speech,” according to a Wednesday statement.
Conservative student groups at the University of Pittsburgh (UPitt) will host Daily Wire commentator Michael Knowles, Senior Editor Cabot Phillips and former University of Kentucky swimmer and Independent Women’s Forum spokeswoman Riley Gaines at separate events this semester, according to an Instagram post. The LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, led by Democratic state Reps. Jessica Benham and Malcolm Kenyatta, issued a statement on Wednesday that demanded UPitt cancel the events because the speakers are “transphobic.” . . .
The Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter will host Phillips on March 24 to speak about “Everything The Media Won’t Tell You” and Gaines, who competed against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas during the 2022 NCAA women’s swimming championship, on March 27 to speak about efforts to “Save Women’s Sports.” The College Republican chapter will host a debate sponsored by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute between Knowles and transgender professor Deirdre McCloskey about “Transgenderism & Womanhood” on April 18.
Liliana Orozco, TPUSA chapter president, told the DCNF that the chapter invited Gaines to speak because she is relatable as a recent college graduate. Khaleil Laracuente, the chapter’s Vice President, said that the lawmakers are “supposed to uphold and defend the Constitution,” but their actions show that “they are not here to do so, nor do they care about the First Amendment.”
“I find it quite repulsive that government officials who are well-versed in the laws and comprehend that Pitt is unable to cancel our event without exposing a lawsuit are still pressing for them to do so,” Laracunete told the DCNF. (Read more from “Students Slam Dem Lawmakers Who Demanded University Cancel Conservative Speaker Events” HERE)
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