As a member of the Kent State community, I am deeply concerned about an upcoming event hosted by student organization Turning Point USA, which will feature Kyle Rittenhouse as a guest. Rittenhouse is a controversial figure who shot three men, two fatally, during civil protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin in August 2020. These individuals were protesting the shooting of a Black man by a white police officer.

Kent State has its own painful history with gun violence. On May 4, 1970, members of the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of Kent State University demonstrators, killing four and wounding nine students. This tragic event triggered nationwide student strikes and had profound impacts on national politics.

The decision to host an individual associated with such violence is not only insensitive to our community's past but also threatens to further divide us in these already tense times. We must remember that our university should be a place for learning and growth - not for promoting divisive figures or ideologies that could potentially incite more violence.

We urge Kent State University and Turning Point USA to reconsider their decision to host this event featuring Kyle Rittenhouse. Let's stand together as one community against hate and division - let's make our voices heard! Please sign this petition if you agree that we need to prioritize peace and unity over conflict at Kent State University.