A U.S. Department of Justice assistant attorney general has warned the University of South Carolina against ending outdoor events featuring ‘controversial speakers’ in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death.
Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the DOJ’s civil rights division, wrote a letter to USC President Michael Amiridis on Sept. 19, stating the department has received “troubling allegations” about a meeting between Turning Point USA and Uncensored America student chapter leaders and school administrators.
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According to the DOJ letter, students were told “a decision had been made that controversial speakers and activities will no longer happen outside for the rest of the semester.”
Kirk, Turning Point USA founder and conservative talk show host, was shot and killed at an outdoor Utah Valley University event on Sept. 10.
The DOJ letter also stated that while the groups might choose to hold events indoors for safety reasons, any mandate on just those two groups because they are controversial constitutes “viewpoint discrimination.”
“We urge the university to immediately eliminate any unconstitutional policies and reaffirm its support for outdoor expressive activities that promote the peaceful exchange of ideas that Charlie Kirk championed,” Dhillon wrote in the letter.
University officials responded that the school will keep honoring student requests to host guest speakers outdoors.
“The University of South Carolina honors requests from student organizations to host guest speakers outdoors and will continue to do so, regardless of the student organization or the speaker visiting campus,” according to a statement from Jeff Stensland, USC assistant vice president of institutional relations and public affairs. “As we have done for years, we will work directly with TPUSA/UA to ensure a safe outdoor environment for speakers and attendees.”
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued a statement on Sept 19, saying he appreciates Dhillon and the DOJ for bringing the matter to his attention. The state attorney general said he spoke to USC’s president and was assured no policies limiting free speech will be implemented.
“We have seen bravery from our students as they speak the truth, stand firm in their convictions, and continue to engage in dialogue with those who disagree with them,” Wilson stated. “That’s exactly what Charlie Kirk’s mission was all about.”
The South Carolina attorney general also joined 16 other state attorneys general in writing a letter to college presidents and deans, urging them to protect free speech on campus. The attorneys general wrote that some schools are using Kirk’s death as a justification for shutting down free speech on campuses.
“We have heard troubling reports that some university officials are using the murder of Charlie Kirk as a justification to shut down speech on campus,” the letter stated. “While considering safety concerns, it is critical that universities are not imposing what would effectively be a tax on free speech.”
Bella Carpentier covers the South Carolina legislature, state and Greenville County politics. Contact her at bcarpentier@gannett.com