COLUMBIA -- Uncensored America, the group behind a planned Sept. 18 "roast" of Vice President Kamala Harris on the University of South Carolina campus, says it's suing the university over what it described as First Amendment violations.
The "roast" event has drawn widespread criticism thanks to vulgar marketing materials and its two guests -- Gavin McInnes, the founder of the all-male, far-right Proud Boys group, and Milo Yiannopoulos, another far-right commentator.
Sean Semanko, founder of Uncensored America, said the lawsuit stems from a university Student Senate vote to deny funding for the event. Semanko described that decision as "failing to remain viewpoint neutral."
At 2:30 p.m. Sept. 18, no filing under Uncensored America's name appeared in online federal or state court records. Semanko had a document resembling a legal filing at the press conference announcing the suit, but would not show it to reporters, citing advice from his lawyer. He did not answer questions.
University spokesman Jeff Stensland said he could not comment on pending litigation.
Columbia Education Kamala Harris 'roast' event with Proud Boys founder on USC campus draws further pushback By Ian Grenier [email protected]
The Student Senate, part of the university's student government, voted 27-10 on Sept. 11 to deny around $3,576 in requested event funding to Uncensored America, according to a report from The Daily Gamecock, USC's campus newspaper.
During debate over the funding request, the senate's speaker reportedly said that senate and university policy requires votes on funding allocations to be viewpoint neutral, and that a senate committee had already approved the request. Others argued that the event's vulgar marketing violated university policy.
Nearly 27,000 people signed a petition calling on USC to cancel or modify the "roast." Student organizations, state lawmakers and the NAACP have also sharply criticised the event and the university's decision to allow it, pointing to the speakers' history of bigoted comments and its vulgar theming.
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University President Michael Amiridis and board of trustees Chair Thad Westbrook denounced "hate and bigotry" and "vile and juvenile rhetoric" in an August statement, while also reasserting the school's protection of free speech.
The Post and Courier could not immediately reach the Student Senate's speaker for comment.
Columbia Education Opposition mounts against Kamala Harris 'roast' event with Proud Boys founder at USC campus By Ian Grenier [email protected]
Semanko, whose group bills itself as a free speech organization, said the event would go ahead as planned at the university's Russell House student union building, and threatened further lawsuits against unnamed students and faculty.
"There is nothing you can do to stop us," Semanko said.
Student groups organized alternate event programming a few blocks from the "roast" event for the evening of Sept. 18, including a rage room, free food and voter registration. Some in Columbia have also said that they plan to protest the event outside of the student union building.
This is a developing story.
Education Lab SC Education Department partners with conservative media platform PragerU By Ian Grenier [email protected] Sign up for our Education Lab newsletter.
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