Political commentator Steven Crowder returned to Southern Methodist University this week with his signature “Change My Mind” debate series, but this time, security standards were different.
The September 30 debate, themed “The Left is Violent,” took place under the shadow of escalating political violence nationwide from the radical left and the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on September 10.
Wearing a bulletproof vest and standing behind reinforced bulletproof glass, Crowder addressed students and passersby with multiple Texas state troopers, Dallas Police, SMU Police, and his own private security team standing aside.
In response to a social media post showing a video of Crowder putting on the bulletproof vest, he wrote, “It wasn’t easy but it was something that had to be done.”
For many in attendance, the presence of Crowder’s heavy security protocol was not only understandable, it was necessary. Crowder himself, while joking about how uncomfortable his bulletproof vest was, made it clear that political violence has made these measures unavoidable.
The “Change My Mind” debate format, where anyone can sit down to debate Crowder on hot-button issues, has consistently sparked challenging dialogue around the country. But in the current time of the leftists’ “assassination culture,” the conversation took place under a heightened sense of danger, reminding attendees that free speech on campus is not just being challenged; it is being physically threatened.
Reportedly, Erika Kirk and Charlie Kirk had previously discussed Kirk’s potential to wear a bulletproof vest during public speaking events.
An excerpt from an article posted by Turning Point USA reads, “In an interview, the wife of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk said she had implored him to wear a bulletproof vest. But she sees divine work in his death.”