Who is gun rights activist Kaitlin Bennett?
KAITLIN Bennett rose to fame for her controversial social media comments and gun advocacy work.
She has gone viral on Twitter multiple times for her firm beliefs in the right to bear arms.
Who is Kaitlin Bennett?
Biology graduate Kaitlin Bennett, 24, is a gun-rights activist who inflamed gun control debates in 2018 when she celebrated her graduation from Kent State University,, by strolling around campus armed with an AR-10 rifle.
“Now that I graduated from [Kent State], I can finally arm myself on campus," she said in the May 2018 tweet, which has garnered more than 35,000 likes.
"I should have been able to do so as a student — especially since [four] unarmed students were shot and killed by the government on this campus."
She wore a graduation cap printed with the message, “come and take it”.
Other footage captured of her visit showed the crowd following Bennett, friend Joel Patrick and a security guard around the campus as she attempted to interview students for a President’s Day stunt, chanting insults and throwing toilet paper.
“This is what happens when a Trump supporter goes to a college campus,” 24-year-old Bennett captioned a video of the crowd taken from inside her car.
“Leftists started a riot when [we] showed up, and the [Ohio University] let it happen,” she claimed.
“They [protesters] threw projectiles and poured hot coffee on us, and there's video of [police] officers witnessing [Joel’s] truck being vandalized.
The founder of conservative youth website Liberty Hangout claimed local police should have done more to stop the students from harassing her.
How did the university react?
Ohio University Police said in a statement that the students were, like Bennett, only exercising their constitutionally protected right to free speech.
“[Bennett] drew a large crowd of people, many with opposing viewpoints, who also chose to exercise their First Amendment rights,” the statement said.
“Contrary to allegations circulating on social media, the incident did not rise to the level of a riot.There was strong language, and allegations that some unknown person(s) in the crowd splashed water, but there were no reported injuries or violence, and no one was arrested during the incident.”
Ohio University spokesperson Carly Leatherwood added: "The school is “committed to fostering an atmosphere that allows the free and peaceful exchange of diverse thoughts and ideas.”
But defiant Bennet responded, saying: "You can't keep us away and you can't keep us silent."