COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Two speakers scheduled for an event at the University of South Carolina’s Russell House are sparking controversy both on and off campus.
On September 18th, the USC Chapter of an organization called Uncensored America will be holding what they’re calling a “comedy roast” of Vice President Kamala Harris (sexually explicit/offensive content on the banner for the event has been hidden).
The speakers scheduled are Milo Yiannopoulos -a far right political commentator, and Gavin McInnes — the founder of the Proud Boys, labeled a white supremacist group by the Anti-Defamation League.
Currently, a petition on Change.org to stop the roast has been signed by over 10,000 students and citizens.
ABC Columbia’s Lee Williams spoke with the founder of Uncensored America Sean Semanko.
“I think it’s silly and proves our point, which is that they are trying to censor us, they’re trying to cancel us, they don’t want this event to happen,” says Semanko.
According to Semanko, Uncensored America is a nonpartisan group and is against all forms of censorship and cancel culture.
“We want to promote the right to free speech and we want to be able to have a space where people can hear different opinions and also push back against places that are echo chambers or just one side of things,” he says.
ABC Columbia’s Lee Williams spoke with students outside of the Russell House to get their take on the event.
“I think everyone has the right to speak, you don’t have to listen to them if you don’t want to. They can speak to themselves — who cares…” says Aidan Eubanks.
“I feel like there’s a line that someone can cross, and I feel like if someone is respectful, they’ll be able to come and talk but that poster like that, it’s very disrespectful, so obviously if you have 8,000 students telling them they shouldn’t come… I may be one of them.”
Fresh sound from chloe: “All I have to say is that, regardless of whether or not you agree with them, their right to do that is protected by the first amendment, and I think, it’s protected under the constitution for them to be here, so I need to respect that and if you don’t want to go and you want to protest you have a right to do that too.”
But local lawmakers are pushing back.
Senator Tameika Isaac Devine issued a letter to USC’s president saying in part, “Allowing this event to happen on the campus of the University of South Carolina will not only send the wrong message to students, faculty, alumni, and donors, but it will harm the progress we have made towards reconciliation and creating an environment that respects everyone.”
And Representative Leon Howard in a press release saying in part, “This event, as described, proves to support activities and rhetoric that reverts back to the university’s historical challenges rooted in the degradation and devaluing of Black people.”
USC President Michael Amiridis releasing a statement as well, saying in part that while the university condemns the vile and juvenile rhetoric used to promote the event, “We remain steadfast in safeguarding the first amendment rights of our students, even when we may be offended by their choices and statements.”
“If you look at our comedy show, and look at the title of our event, if you think making fun of somebody’s name is racist, sexist, whatever ism they come up with next, then you need to come to the event. Because you need to be exposed to different ideas, different things, because it’s not racist, it’s not sexist, it’s not any of these things they’re calling us, it’s just a light hearted joke that people can’t take which just proves our point in the end,” says Semanko.
The event on September 18th is free to attendees, with doors opening at 7 p.m.
Categories: Local News, News
Tags: Gavin McInnes, Milo Yiannopoulos, Proud Boys, Sean Semanko, Uncensored America, University of South Carolina, Vice President Kamala Harris