The two socialist groups at Kent State University refused to participate in a food drive with the conservative groups on campus because they have “intolerant, dangerous beliefs.”
The Kent State University chapters of Turning Point USA and Young Americans for Liberty challenged the Kent State Socialist Collective and the Kent State Young Democratic Socialists to a friendly, competitive food drive last Friday.
The YDSA chapter posted their response on twitter and said that while “this event would benefit the public greatly, we at YDSA do not work with organizations that promote/endorse figures who do promote sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, Zionism, or any other intolerant dangerous belief. Therefore it is against our principles to work with either TPUSA or YAL.”
They then announced that they would still do a food drive, just not with the conservative groups.
The Socialist Collective also released a statement that explained they would not be participating in the challenge because people having enough food to donate is proof of capitalism’s problems.
“More often than not, people are willing to donate canned goods for a food drive. But how often do we ask why there are people who rely on our charity to survive?” the group tweeted. “We have enough food to donate, and too many people who need donations. The issue is about wealth, who has it and who doesn’t.”
The group then encouraged students to participate in the food drive that was not sponsored by YAL and TPUSA, and said, “the very system that TPUSA and YAL express their love for every week in our student center is the one that brings about the conditions of poverty that gives us the empathic need of charity.”
After being turned down by both socialist groups, YAL and TPUSA issued a joint statement.
“The purpose of this challenge was to extend an olive branch to our ideological counterparts on campus, open up a mutual dialogue and friendly channels of communication, and accomplish some good for our community in the process,” they explained.
Kent State University officials did not respond back to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment in time for publication.
Kelsey Carroll is a sophomore at Indiana University Purdue University – Fort Wayne
studying communications and political science. She serves as a Media Ambassador and Chapter President for Young Americans for Liberty.
