Students at the University of South Carolina are calling on their school to cancel a scheduled “roast” of Vice President Kamala Harris hosted by Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes and Marjorie Taylor Greene's favorite Nazi pedophile, Milo Yiannopolous, scheduled for Wednesday night.
Saying the event “encourages racism, homophobia, and sexism” on campus, students have circulated an online petition to pressure the University to cancel the event.
But as of press time Tuesday, the event hadn't been canceled. According to an official statement on the University's website, the "roast"--which has been promoted for weeks as a "comedy event" where the Vice President's first name is deliberately misspelled as a sexually shaming insult--is sponsored not by the school, but by a "registered student group" and therefore is allowed under the school's policies.
The event was organized by the South Carolina chapter of Uncensored America, a "nonpartisan organization fighting for freedom of speech." Uncensored America has a presence at several universities across the US and hosts “honest and fun conversations with controversial figures to fight censorship and cancel culture."
"We have received your messages and understand your concerns about an upcoming speakers’ event at our campus," the passive-aggressive August 27th statement reads. "This event is organized by a registered student group, and it is not endorsed by the university.
"Like many other universities across the country, USC has adopted the Chicago Principles that pledge to remove obstacles to constitutionally protected free expression on our campuses. We remain steadfast in safeguarding the First Amendment rights of our students, even when we may be offended by their choices and statements."
Hate speech intended to spur violence--which is the backbone of the Proud Boys movement--is not protected under the First Amendment. However, the University's student government denied funding for the event and voted for a motion that will increase security across campus.