As a whole bunch of Hampton College alumni returned to the yard this previous weekend, “Blexit,” a corporation co-founded by Candace Owens and “powered” by Charlie Kirk’s Turning Level USA, tried to affix the HBCU’s homecoming festivities.
Their try, nonetheless, was short-lived, as campus safety reportedly escorted the group off campus on account of its unauthorized presence on campus. In a press release posted on their social media, the college supplied context to the incident.
“Hampton College is conscious of an incident involving representatives of a corporation often called BLEXIT who tried to entry campus throughout Homecoming weekend with out correct authorization. Whereas the group has recommended that their filming exercise was “shut down,” that narrative is inaccurate. This was not a matter of suppression; it was a matter of security, process, and equity,” the college wrote.
As a non-public college, Hampton College has “established processes for campus entry, vendor participation, and media exercise,” which Blexit failed to finish to take part in homecoming.
“This procedural failure meant they weren’t accepted to take part, per College coverage and communicated prematurely to all candidates. Of the 36 purposes submitted, 18 had been accepted; BLEXIT was amongst those who didn’t meet the said necessities,” the assertion continued. “As a matter of public security, Hampton should know who’s on campus, why they’re right here, and the way to contact them in case of an emergency. Distributors and friends following established procedures enable us to coordinate entry and be certain that all individuals are correctly credentialed and guarded. With out this step, we can not lengthen the privileges of official visitor standing or assure security protocols.”
The college’s assertion seems to be in response to Craig Lengthy, a member of Blexit’s tour, who claimed that the college silenced the group throughout their “Educate to Liberate” HBCU tour. The tour, which deliberate to go to 10 outstanding traditionally Black establishments throughout their homecoming celebrations is on a mission to carry “conservative values to life, fostering essential considering, and sparking highly effective conversations on HBCU campuses,” in accordance with their web site.
“As an alternative of celebrating that spirit of open dialogue, the college shut it down — claiming we ‘didn’t undergo the right channels.’ Let’s be sincere: this wasn’t about paperwork. It was about politics,” Lengthy wrote on Instagram. “We had been silenced as a result of we’re BLEXIT — as a result of we stand for Christian values, conservative rules, and unbiased thought that problem the mainstream narrative. That’s not ‘variety or inclusion’ — that’s discrimination towards free thought.”
Finally, whereas Hampton College says it “welcomes organizations and audio system representing quite a lot of views, supplied they observe established protocols,” the varsity additionally emphasised the significance of defending its college students, employees, and alumni.
“Hampton College operates with three priorities: to know each group on campus, to facilitate their participation in actions, and to guard the well-being of all concerned. In at the moment’s atmosphere, that stage of coordination is crucial to sustaining security and a frictionless expertise for the almost 15,000 individuals who attended Homecoming,” HU concluded. “Our foremost duty is the security and well-being of our college students, college, employees, and friends. Upholding College procedures ensures a safe, respectful, and welcoming atmosphere for all who go to our Residence by the Sea.”
