Students at Arizona State University took part in a campus protest Wednesday against Kyle Rittenhouse‘s status as a student even after it was revealed that he was no longer enrolled as an online student.
Dozens of participants in the event organized by liberal groups chanted “killer Kyle off our campus,” “Lock him up,” or “ASU, shame on you.”
They were met by counterprotesters who yelled, “Let’s go Kyle.” Among the other chants by conservative-leaning groups such as College Republicans United that could be heard in videos posted online were, “Let’s go Brandon,” which has become a euphemism for “F*** Joe Biden.”
Dueling protests over #KyleRittenhouse at the ASU Tempe campus, Students fo Socialism ASU demanding the online student be expelled, while College Republicans United rally in support of the acquitted teenager. pic.twitter.com/25iqvK8YND
— Erin Smith ⚓️ (@erinsmithSF) December 1, 2021
Conservative students chant “Let’s go Brandon” at the ASU protest against Kyle Rittenhouse attending online classes at the university.
Credit: @DrewHLivepic.twitter.com/s2Pzzrbmx5
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) December 2, 2021
A university representative told the Arizona Republic he was not aware of any arrests, and its report said the demonstrations were largely peaceful, though heated.
“University campuses are synonymous with free speech, an environment for the vigorous discussion and debate of ideas. Differences of opinion, from all sides, should be explored in a peaceful exchange,” spokesman Jay Thorne wrote in an email to the news outlet.
Rittenhouse, 18, was found not guilty on Nov. 19 of intentional homicide and other charges related to the fatal shooting of two men and the injuring of a third during a riot in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year. During the trial, in which Rittenhouse claimed he was acting in self-defense, he identified as a student studying nursing at ASU, and it was later revealed he was enrolled online as a non-degree-seeking student.
ANY CIVIL RIGHTS LAWSUIT AGAINST KYLE RITTENHOUSE ‘WILL FAIL,’ LEGAL ANALYSTS SAY
A coalition of student groups including Mecha de ASU, Arizona State University Students for Socialism, Students for Justice in Palestine, and the Multicultural Solidarity Coalition planned the rally for Wednesday and made demands of campus leadership, including withdrawing Rittenhouse from enrollment, releasing a statement condemning Rittenhouse and white supremacy, reaffirming support for the Multicultural Center, and redirecting funding from ASU’s police department to the Multicultural Center.
Then, earlier this week, the university revealed Rittenhouse was no longer enrolled at ASU.
“Kyle Rittenhouse did not go through the ASU admissions process, but was enrolled in two publicly available courses for this semester,” said ASU President Michael Crow in a statement provided to Arizona Republican state Sen. Kelly Townsend. “University records show that he is now no longer enrolled, a status precipitated by his own actions.”
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“As a university that measures itself by whom it includes and how they succeed, should he choose to seek admission in the future, his application will be processed as any other would be,” Crow added in his statement regarding Rittenhouse’s enrollment status.
The Washington Examiner reached out to ASU for a statement.
