Kyle Rittenhouse returned to speak at the University of Memphis last Wednesday night after campus organization TPUSA invited him, however, to a near-empty theatre.
Rittenhouse is known for shooting three protesters, killing two, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He was acquitted of all charges involved in the incident.
The theatre, which seats over 330, had about 40 in attendance, most of whom were not current UofM students. Before the event started, volunteers for Turning Point USA attempted to get the sparse crowd to gather together closer to the front of the auditorium. While some moved in, many continued to stay in their seats.
There were far more protesters outside than people inside the auditorium.
Rittenhouse opened his speech saying Memphis had matured and called student protestors, “George Soros funded.” Soros is a Jewish billionaire and Democratic party donor. His name is often used as an antisemitic trope used by right-wingers to attack campus protesters according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
In Rittenhouse’s speech, he told his side of the story in order of what happened when he shot the three protestors. He also expressed regret for being there.
“Hindsight is 20/20,” said Rittenhouse. “I wish I didn’t make that decision, and I wouldn’t have gone there again.”
Rittenhouse in his Q&A session also referred to transgender people as a slur. "There is only two genders, cry about it,” said Rittenhouse.
He then proceeded to abruptly end the Q&A after being questioned on his use of the slur, despite there still being a line. Some members of the crowd gasped and others laughed when the slur was said.
“It's egregious but it's all rage bait,” said Tyler Crisp, president of the Stonewall Tigers.
Rittenhouse was also asked about leaked texts showing him fantasizing about shooting protestors. Rittenhouse said he could not respond as he is currently suing the person who leaked the texts.
Rittenhouse also debated with people on gun control and what happened last year at the University.
Rittenhouse started his speech about 15 minutes late and ended shortly after 8 PM.
