OU College Democrats will hold a peaceful protest against Turning Point USA before its event Thursday evening.
The protest will be held at 4:30 p.m. outside the Lloyd Noble Center, two hours before Turning Point USA’s visit to OU as part of “The Turning Point Tour.”
OU College Democrats announced the protest in an Instagram post Wednesday, specifically highlighting guest speaker Russell Brand, English actor and comedian facing charges of sexual assault and rape, stating Brand’s actions go against the values of the organization.
Brand is facing one allegation of rape, one of indecent assault, one of oral rape and two counts of sexual assault in England, according to the BBC. The alleged incidents involved four women and are said to have taken place in central London and Bournemouth between 1999 and 2005. Brand pleaded not guilty to the charges in May and is set to stand trial next June.
“Brand’s history of harmful behavior and disrespectful comments goes against the values of safety and respect our community stands for,” the post reads. “Our campus should be a space where everyone feels safe and heard — not a platform for controversy.”
Brand will be joined by Gov. Kevin Stitt and reality TV personality Savannah Chrisley as guest speakers at the event scheduled just two days after conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s 32nd birthday, who was fatally shot at an event at Utah Valley University in early September.
Zane Smith, deputy director of communications for Oklahoma College Democrats, wrote in a statement to OU Daily Thursday that the organization condemns providing Brand with a platform on OU campus.
"We think it's disgusting and absurd that TPUSA is giving a platform to Russell Brand, who has charges of rape and assault, and a long history of allegations. It is disappointing that the University would allow him to speak at Lloyd Noble," Smith wrote.
OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. told OU Daily editors in a sit-down interview Oct. 7 that it is not the university’s job to endorse the speech of any individual or group, but to provide a forum for students to be exposed to all points of view. Harroz said there are processes that students can go through if they feel that a speaker’s presence is “harassing.”
“Our job in education is not to say we're for this speech or against this speech … but to provide the forum where students can have that experience … and to allow student groups to bring to campus those speakers that they choose to bring, and then to make sure that the students that choose to attend or don't choose to attend, that if they feel like their rights are being infringed, there's an outlet for them too,” Harroz said.
OU Turning Point USA president Kalib Magana told OU Daily Thursday there will be time for a Q&A with Brand at the event. Stitt and Chrisley will not participate in the Q&A.
Magana said the organization applauds those with opposing views who plan to attend the event, but he said the protest is "causing a scene."
"Students who oppose our views, we welcome everybody. We want everybody to be there, but it has to be respectful. We actually applaud people who are going there in honest faith for a discussion," Magana said. "We don't need perpetrators to be hurting people, just causing a scene. We need we want an honest discussion."
According to an Instagram post from OU’s Office of Advocacy and Education, October is domestic violence awareness month. The post encourages OU students, faculty and staff to wear purple on Thursday to promote domestic violence awareness.
“Dating/domestic violence is just one form of sexual violence,” the post reads. “Last Fall, 18.3% of OU’s Norman campus students reported experiencing some form of dating violence from their partner. That’s (about) 5,500 students!”
This story was edited by Natalie Armour. Avery Avery copy edited this story.
