Luke Pieczynski and Cooper Cazares contributed to this report.
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk didn’t get much of a chance to speak at his Turning Point USA tour stop at Penn State on Thursday.
As Turning Point USA representatives spoke to a crowd at HUB Lawn for several minutes, their microphone was cut in the middle of a segment, making it nearly impossible for attendees to hear Kirk and other speakers over crowd noise.
Morgonn McMichael, a Turning Point USA contributor, told Onward State a Penn State official came over to the event and told the group to cut off the sound. McMichael said they had been shut down at other universities and that the group had approval from Penn State to be on campus.
Penn State spokesperson Lisa Powers told Onward State that while Turning Point USA was permitted to be on campus, the group did not have university permission to host a speaker. Additionally, Powers said the group had been reminded the morning of the event that Kirk’s use of amplification was not permitted.
“The requested activity by the student chapter of Turning Point USA was to set up a table to distribute information, which was approved,” Powers said.
“There was no request made nor did the group follow University policy for having a speaker. Regardless, Charlie Kirk’s presence on campus is permitted under the First Amendment as well as under Penn State Policy AD 51 “Use of Outdoor Areas for Expressive Activities,” which provides guidance to those who wish to engage in speaking at outside locations at Penn State.
“Under AD51, however, there are requirements that must be followed including the prohibition of the use of sound amplification equipment between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
“The student leaders of Turning Point USA were aware of this limitation and were explicitly reminded this morning before their event began that amplification was not permitted.
“After the event started, the group was asked to stop using amplification due to its violation of AD 51, which the University must enforce uniformly across events and groups. As a strong supporter of free speech, the University did not ask the group to cease activities nor to stop the event. It could have gone on without amplification, as was seen when another speaker did continue the Turning Point USA event after sound amplification was stopped.”
After the microphones were cut off, Kirk and Penn State Turning Point USA representatives continued to speak and distribute merchandise to those in attendance. They left the venue shortly after.
Hundreds of supporters and protestors turned out for the event.
Kirk will return to Penn State on Oct. 17 for another Turning Point USA event, which will be headlined by former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. outside the Thomas Building.
