The UW Community observed a steep divide as conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s visit drew near. Crowds gathered Thursday afternoon hours before his set arrival, anxiously awaiting their opportunity to snag a seat in the Arts and Sciences Auditorium.
While many students enthusiastically accepted “Make America Great Again” hats and participated in pro-Trump chants as they waited in line to enter, not everyone present was quite so supportive. A group of protesters lined the entrance to the building, wielding pride flags and signs, urging supporters to reconsider.
“I’m here because I just don’t support the facilitation of fascism in our country,” said protester Kai Edwards.
Edwards carried a sign stating “Wake up and Smell the Fascism.” He was joined by fellow protester Alana Rosales.
“I think it’s ironic that a lot of republicans preach freedom, but when we practice ours, they seem to want to push it down, so this is my way of fighting back against that,” Rosales said.
Edwards offered explanations of other areas in which he takes issue with Charlie Kirk’s beliefs.
“I really hate that he wants to bring religion into our government,” Edwards said, “It’s our constitutional right to have a separation of church and state,” Edwards said. “I hate his views on the trans community. I think they’re really harmful for us as a society. Generally, I just think he’s a coward.”
UW Student and Charlie Kirk supporter Ryan Schreiber sees things differently.
“I love most of his views, the way he just actually talks to people instead of having an argument,” Schreiber said. Amid his praise of Charlie Kirk’s beliefs and actions, Schreiber explained the issue he takes with those whose beliefs oppose his own.
“They’re more concerned about trying to get you to believe what they believe instead of letting you just have your own opinion,” Schreiber said. He shared that he chose to attend the event to see what Charlie Kirk has to say, and to see how people in the area might react to his views and ideas. Though he described his belief that many four year university professors are trying to lead their students to follow certain beliefs, he offered some neutrality regarding the protesters present at the event.
“I let them have their opinions, but if they come out and shove it down my throat, that’s when I have a problem,” Schreiber said. “They don’t bother me, I don’t bother them.”
Edwards discussed his willingness to communicate and find common ground with those whose beliefs differ from his own.
“Today I’ve had conversations with conservatives who, although they may have wanted to debate with me, were willing to facilitate an actual conversation with me,” Edwards said. “That’s something that is so rare today and not only does it need to be seen more, but it needs to be seen everywhere, and that’s something that Charlie Kirk has failed to facilitate at every single step.”
Rosales discussed the herd-like nature of political beliefs and encouraged everyone to work to fully understand their own beliefs and the way they intersect and interact with one another.
“You can be conservative and support LGBTQ+ rights, these are just beliefs that you have and I think expressing that is really important,” Rosales said. “If you have a political belief, look into the actual theory and ideology and stop listening to what people who say they’re a part of that belief say. Political beliefs are for you and not for you to follow because someone else tells you to.”
Edwards expressed his patriotism and love for his country, and stated that he didn’t want to see the country go down in a spiral of extremism and polarization.
“To me this protest is kind of extending an olive branch. I want people to see what I have to say because I’m also willing to listen to what they have to say,” Edwards said. “A lot of us are fighting for the same goal. A lot of the people who are coming here aren’t coming here because we want to damage everything on either side. Everyone here is a patriot in their own right.”
