EXCLUSIVE: Alternative event set for USC on night of controversial ‘roast’ of VP Harris

At least nine USC student organizations are planning an alternative event for students Sept. 18 during the “roast” of Vice President Kamala Harris that’s set to feature two controversial, nationally known, right-wing speakers. Other organizations also are discussing forms of protest for the roast itself, including possibly a silent sit-in.

The alternative event is scheduled to take place from 7-10 p.m. on the same night at the University of South Carolina’s Blatt Field,  not far from the student center where the roast is to take place. There also are other organizations ready to help with the event.

No details could be confirmed about potential counter-protests, including a sit-in, at this time.

Creating an alternative event “was more of a consensus that some students may feel unsafe or uncomfortable with what’s going on and (us) wanting to provide a different alternative,” said Will Dorroh, president of the Residence Hall Association, one of the groups involved. “We’re looking at different music options, we’re going to have food and stuff like that. The process is definitely in place and the event is going to be happening.”

The “roast” is to include speakers Milo Yiannopoulos and Gavin McInnes and is being promoted nationally by its sponsor, the student chapter of Uncensored America.

The event’s announcement first sparked controversy due to its promotional flyer, which some students and alumni described as highly offensive.

The news of McInnes’ involvement later created further outrage. McInnes is a co-founder of the far-right militant group the Proud Boys. Milo is a controversial social media political commentator.

USC alumna Courtney McClain created a petition titled “Not On Our Campus” in August calling for the university to cancel the event. The petition has since garnered more than 24,000 signatures and has made national news.

The petition refers to the university’s Carolinian Creed, which calls for discouragement of bigotry on campus and respect for the dignity of others.

“To see that the university is not living through the values that they created themselves, that is something that is very disheartening,” McClain told the Carolina News & Reporter. “Moving forward, either we should pass some type of amendment to make it enforceable and actually enact this creed, or we should just dispose of it altogether.”

President Michael Amiridis and Board of Trustees Chairman Thad Westbrook issued a statement Aug. 27 condemning the speakers, but cited the roast as constitutionally protected free speech that couldn’t be censored by a public university.

“We condemn the vile and juvenile rhetoric used to promote this event,” the statement said in part. 

Many students and alumni, including McClain, were unsatisfied with the administration’s response.

“I think just referring to calling it vile and childish really underestimates what the Proud Boys are and what Milo has said,” McClain said. “They could have said anything along the lines of militant behavior, homophobic, sexist, racist rhetoric, but it seemed like they were still playing it safe.”

The Association of African American Students issued a statement co-signed by 21 different organizations in response to Amiridis’ letter. The statement acknowledged the First Amendment right to free speech but called for the university to prioritize the safety of its students.

Among the organizations were the collegiate chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the National Pan-Hellenic Council at the university, which represents historically Black fraternities and sororities, and the National Association of Black Journalists.

“They reached out to a lot of people,” said Shamar Winston, the social media chair of the Pan-Hellenic Council. “Reaching out and then seeing every day a new signature from an organization being added, it really really felt like we’re unified.” 

Austin Brown, the council’s secretary and programming chair of the Theta Nu chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, said he moved an earlier event planned by the fraternity from Sept. 18 in anticipation of helping facilitate protests or possibly a silent sit-in for the event.

“I had to look at it and decide, ‘What is the best way to move?’” Brown said. “What is the safest, most politically correct way that I can approach this that isn’t diminishing their rights, but isn’t also diminishing my rights as a student?”

Ayeesha Wynn, the outreach chair for the Black journalists group, said the organization acknowledged the constitutional right to free speech but co-signed the statement to show a desire to prevent controversial figures from having a platform on campus in the future.

Wynn said if events like this can take place, then things could possibly devolve into “something worse.”

McClain, who worked behind the scenes to help pen the statement from the Association of African American Students, said she later faced public scrutiny and harassment from followers of Yiannopoulos and McInnes in social media posts that she showed to the Carolina News & Reporter. She said she hopes campus leaders prioritize student safety in their next steps.

“We don’t know what (the speakers’) mindset is or what their intentions are at this event,” McClain said. “I think the university really needs to take that aspect of it seriously. They’re really focusing on the freedom of speech aspect. But we also need to make sure that students are going to be safe as well if they decide to do the silent sit-in or any of the other types of actions.”

More details about the alternative event will be coming soon, organizers said, with a formal flyer set to accompany marketing for the event.

Confirmed campus organizers of the alternative event on Blatt Field thus far are:

Residence Hall Association

Student Government Association 

Carolina Productions

Ears Wide Open

Kappa Delta Chi Sorority

Asian Pacific Islander Activism Association

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Individuals Respecting Identities and Sexualities

Association of African American Students