Prior to conservative political commentator Michael J. Knowles’ speaking event held on Monday, Oct. 21, Kennesaw State student organizations Kennesaw Pride Alliance and KSUnited held protests on the Campus Green opposing his presence.
KPA president Revi Woody and KSUnited president Alexa Vaca hosted the protest three hours before Knowles was set to speak in Convocation Center room 2007, at 7 p.m.
“KSUnited and Kennesaw Pride Alliance joined together to talk about ways in which we can show solidarity with the trans[gender] community and educate people,” Vaca said at the protest. “We believe that education is very important because a lot of the times people hate what they don’t understand — so by educating people we can correct a lot of the myths and misconceptions people have about [transgender] people while also asserting that [transgender] rights are human rights.”
According to a Facebook event inviting people to protest Knowles at KSU, KPA and KSUnited said they were protesting Knowles because of his “known” racism and hostility towards the transgender community.
“KSU Young Americans for Freedom will be hosting a transphobic event this Monday, Oct 21 [sic] called ‘Men are not Women’ with Michael Knowles, who has been known for his racist and transphobic comments,” the details of the invite said. “Our campus continues to be a hostile and dehumanizing environment for marginalized people, while the university protects hate and allows it to proliferate.”
KPA and KSUnited’s protest, titled “Stand With the Transgender Community: Educating the Campus on Trans Issues and Identities,” had organizers pass out pamphlets to further educate the KSU community about gender identity and the discrimination faced by transgender and gender non-conforming individuals.
Vaca and Woody saw flyers and posts on social media about Knowles’ event and started planning their demonstration almost immediately.
Chairman of the KSU chapter of Young Americans for Freedom Jaime Hahn invited Knowles to speak. Hahn heard about the protest on the Campus Green, but only saw the silent protest in the Convocation Center after the event.
“I was really happy that there was … some conversation between the protestors and the attendees,” Hahn said. “I wasn’t expecting that to be able to happen but I think that the fact that the protestors did come inside the building really catalyzed that.”
Vice Chairwoman of YAF Ellie Hicks tabled for the event and said she had conversations with protestors at tabling events and after Knowles’ speech.
“Honestly, all I wanted was to have conversations and I really would’ve liked to see more people come inside that were outside, but that’s okay,” Hicks said. “I mean it’s their prerogative, their right, so I mean what can you do? You can’t force anyone to be there.”
At his event, Knowles spoke about what he called “fake news” and climate change. Knowles did not speak about transgender people but did reference the protest on campus.
Knowles’ event, titled “Men Are Not Women, And Other Uncomfortable Truths,” is part of his Fall 2019 lecture tour on college campuses around the United States, including the University of Florida and Yale University.
