\n<\/p>\n
Campus security at Hampton University escorted members of Blexit off the historically Black university\u2019s campus this past weekend after the Black conservative group tried to join homecoming festivities as part of its \u201cEducate to Liberate\u201d HBCU tour. The group claims it was silenced by the university. Hampton leaders say Blexit didn\u2019t follow proper protocols for visiting the campus. <\/p>\n
Blexit, which is affiliated with the Charlie Kirk\u2013founded Turning Point USA, planned to visit 10 HBCUs during homecoming events with the goal of \u201cbringing conservative values to life, fostering critical thinking, and sparking powerful conversations on HBCU campuses,\u201d according to Blexit\u2019s website. The group also made stops at Howard University and other campuses, though it canceled a visit to Florida A&M University, promising to announce a new date.<\/p>\n
Craig Long, a Blexit member, claimed on Instagram that Hampton University shut down the group\u2019s dialogue with students. <\/p>\n
\u201cInstead of celebrating that spirit of open discussion, the university shut it down\u2014claiming we \u2018didn\u2019t go through the proper channels,\u2019\u201d Long wrote. \u201cLet\u2019s be honest: this wasn\u2019t about paperwork. It was about politics. We were silenced because we are Blexit\u2014because we stand for Christian values, conservative principles, and independent thought that challenge the mainstream narrative.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hampton University leaders pushed back on Long\u2019s description of the incident. They wrote in a statement that Blexit didn\u2019t complete the application to participate in homecoming as a vendor or pay the associated fees. Out of 36 vendor applications submitted, the university approved 18, and Blexit \u201cwas among those that did not meet the stated requirements,\u201d according to the statement. Those vendors were notified the week before the event that they would not be allowed on campus. University leaders framed the procedures as a \u201cmatter of public safety\u201d to know who\u2019s on campus, with nearly 15,000 people visiting for homecoming.<\/p>\n
\u201cHampton University welcomes organizations and speakers representing a variety of perspectives, provided they follow established protocols,\u201d the statement read. \u201cBLEXIT failed to meet those standards.\u201d<\/p>\n