After Cancellations, Kyle Rittenhouse Finally Has His Say at Rare Public Appearance
CONROE, Texas—After being canceled in one of the reddest counties in Texas, Kyle Rittenhouse He finally had the opportunity to speak out against what was described as a coordinated ahref=”https://www.theepochtimes.com/t-censorship”>censorship He and the conservatives are being resisted.
In a rare public appearance, Rittenhouse, who has become an icon for Second Amendment advocates, walked onto the stage with AC/DC’s “Back in Black” Loud applause and blaring from loudspeakers
He answered questions in an interview with Cassandra Spencer (the former Facebook whistleblower) who spoke at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.
About 200 people attended the Rally Against Censorship hosted by Defiance Press and Publishing in Conroe. This publishing house caters to conservative writers who are often ignored by mainstream publishers.
“So, censorship has played a major role in my case, my life—being censored from my supporters, being taken off Twitter, Facebook, Instagram,” He said. “That’s how censorship has played a huge role.”
Rittenhouse and Spencer were not the only conservatives who spoke. Authors, activists, and lawyers all joined Rittenhouse and Spencer.
Southern Star Brewing was originally planned to host the anti-censorship demonstration in Montgomery County. This conservative county north Houston votes overwhelmingly Republican. Local media reports that the brewery cancelled the event despite being bombarded by complaints.
The rally was then moved to the county’s public fairgrounds. However, organizer David Thomas Roberts, founder of Defiance Press, said Montgomery County received an avalanche of emails urging the event’s cancellation.
“I’ve been told they were getting literally hundreds and hundreds of requests to cancel us from all over the country,” He said.
Roberts stated that he tried to book with another Montgomery County brewing company before Southern Star Brewing, but was rejected. Because of previous Republican events held at the same location, he decided to contact Star Brewing.
Roberts said he was told the company’s beer distributor, the H-E-B grocery store chain, had also weighed in against the event. Southern Star Brewing CEO said that the accusation was false.
“Guys, this is Montgomery County, which a lot of you claim is the reddest county in the state,” Roberts stated that he was clearly frustrated by the difficulties in finding a venue.
As one of the speakers on Jan. 26, Roberts criticized the mainstream media’s bias, citing a headline from the Houston Chronicle saying the event attracted a small crowd.
Roberts said he had to coordinate with the local sheriff’s office and Homeland Security to host the event. Roberts said that many people who signed up for free admission were using fake identities which made it difficult to predict the turnout.
Conservatives wore Trump hats, red, white and blue attire, and members of the Texit Movement, which supports Texas secession, attended the event.
A few Proud Boys members, a right-wing group targeted by the federal government in relation to the Jan. 6 Capitol Riots, also showed their support.
There was a strong police presence at the venue and they had planned for potential protests, but no other groups showed up.
Besides being canceled in Texas, Rittenhouse’s scheduled talk was canceled at the Oak Room, a bar and restaurant at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas. The Jan. 18 reception was planned during the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s 45th annual SHOT show. The trade show’s acronym stands for Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor.
An Oak Room manager told The Epoch Times He cancelled the reception in order to protect his staff following a flood of emails and angry calls.
Rittenhouse stated that the cancellations were only the latest attempts to silence Rittenhouse since he was charged with murdering two protesters using an AR style semi-automatic rifle, and wounding another during the protests held in Kenosha. This happened during the summer 2020.
After Rittenhouse testified that he was acting in self-defense, the jury found him not guilty. Rittenhouse went to Kenosha in order to protect property and give first aid.
“I knew God was on my side. I knew he was watching over me,” Rittenhouse responded to questions regarding how censorship and falsehoods had affected his trial.
Rittenhouse stated that the government, mainstream media and business were making an ongoing effort to silence and defame Rittenhouse.
The mainstream media called him a murderer and said he shot black people at the riot—which was verifiably false, he said. But people still think that’s what happened, he said, also complaining about comments from Hollywood actors shaped by initial media reports.
Rittenhouse stated that Go Fund Me removed his donation page when he tried to raise money for his defense. He also noted that Facebook removed all comments in support of him and that those who helped him were removed on Instagram and Twitter.
“I was blacklisted on social media platforms,” He said.
He said that a police officer who had contributed to his defense fund was fired because he exercised his right to free speech to support him. He claimed that there was an instance where a Black Lives Matter chief police officer marched alongside Black Lives Matter, and he was not charged for free speech.
Rittenhouse stated that the government had not been truthful in the trial. Although Rittenhouse claimed that he was following protesters, he had a video proving the contrary.
He also stated that the prosecution gave him a compressed drone video of the riot that showed that he was being chased, rather than a better-quality video.
“I don’t think I was given a fair trial,” He said.
Rittenhouse also complained of poor coverage at the Rally Against Censorship. Rittenhouse claimed that The Houston Chronicle and The Washington Post, both of which were present at the event, had published inaccurate information without providing any explanation.
He said that he had been censored on Facebook and Instagram because they wouldn’t allow him to boost his messages.
He added that even after Elon Musk’s take over, Twitter would not boost his content either.
Rittenhouse, 20, said he’s just an average young adult who was thrust into the limelight, noting that he was playing Minecraft while waiting to take his turn on stage. He said he doesn’t understand why the media continued to fixate on him.
“You’re a hero,” Someone shouted out from the audience. The audience responded with a burst in applause.
He stated that the trial and censorship had made him more conservative.
Rittenhouse claimed that people who oppose left-wing views are silenced. He pointed out that those involved in conservative organizations like Turning Point USA are targeted and censored via social media.
“It’s disturbing, sickening. I don’t know how that can continue to happen,” He said.
Rittenhouse answered the question of his 16-year old self, saying that everything could change in an instant and that he wouldn’t be too comfortable.
“Because the world may go ahead and try to screw you in one way or the other. But it’ll be okay in the end,” He said.
Rittenhouse claimed that the climate today is so polarized, that negative press had placed him in danger.
“They put my safety at risk, they put my life at risk,” He said. “There are people who want to kill me because of what the media has said.”
Justin Watkins, a Houston resident who traveled from Houston to attend the event said he hoped everyone will wake up to the reality that the Left will continue to suppress ideas they disagree with.
He was disappointed that conservatives did not become more involved.
“I think, for me, this has to be a line in the sand,” Watkins stated.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
