Kent State ‘gun girl’ says she received ‘riot’ welcome at Ohio University

ATHENS — Gun rights activist Kaitlin Bennett, also known as the Kent State “gun girl,” said she was attacked by students at Ohio University when she came to campus on Monday.

Bennett criticized the response from campus police.

Bennett posted videos of people yelling and throwing things at her as she arrived and walked around campus. She said in another post that she came to the university to ask “President’s Day trivia questions,” and that she did not come to the campus just to get a reaction.

The @oupolice lied and said that no violence happened and that there were just "allegations that some unknown person splashed water." Students at @ohiou were throwing things at me all day, dumped hot coffee on me, & vandalized @Joelpatrick1776's truck right in front of the cops. pic.twitter.com/XnMUqFWtrH

— Kaitlin Bennett (@KaitMarieox) February 18, 2020

I went to @ohiou to ask President's Day trivia questions like "who were the first 3 presidents". It's not my fault the students there are a bunch of whiny children that have to throw temper tantrums because someone they disagree with shows up. https://t.co/C32KbdxX2t

— Kaitlin Bennett (@KaitMarieox) February 18, 2020

Ohio University police released a statement on the incident, saying that the reports on social media were overblown. Police said there was strong language used and allegations of water splashed, but no injuries were reported and no arrests made.

“Contrary to allegations circulating on social media, the incident did not rise to the level of a riot,” police said in a statement.

They threw projectiles and poured hot coffee on us, and there's video of your officers witnessing @Joelpatrick1776's truck being vandalized. But yeah, just "some unknown person in the crowd splashed water." I can't wait until @realDonaldTrump takes away your school's funding. https://t.co/b0jiVYW5wy

— Kaitlin Bennett (@KaitMarieox) February 17, 2020

“Although such notice is not required, the lack of it deprived the department of the ability to plan staffing levels,” campus police said in a statement. “As a result, the officers on duty had to prioritize their response to the events as they unfolded, rightly putting everyone’s personal safety ahead of all other concerns.”

Violence against conservatives is NOT OKAY just because it’s socially acceptable

You can’t assault someone just because they voted for @realDonaldTrump

Or attack them because they disagree with you politically

I can’t believe I have to say this in 2020pic.twitter.com/qVERUwhQab

— ELIJAH SCHAFFER (@ElijahSchaffer) February 18, 2020

Bennett said campus police understated the amount of violence in their statement.

This is what happens when a Trump supporter goes to a college campus. Leftists at @ohiou started a riot when @Joelpatrick1776 and I showed up, and the @oupolice let it happen. I think @realDonaldTrump should strip funding from universities like this that harbor terrorists. pic.twitter.com/5TMlfdto9O

This is what happens when a Trump supporter goes to a college campus. Leftists at @ohiou started a riot when @Joelpatrick1776 and I showed up, and the @oupolice let it happen. I think @realDonaldTrump should strip funding from universities like this that harbor terrorists. pic.twitter.com/5TMlfdto9O

— Kaitlin Bennett (@KaitMarieox) February 17, 2020

— Kaitlin Bennett (@KaitMarieox) February 17, 2020 Bennett said she will be returning to Ohio University’s campus, saying on Twitter she will bring an “army of gun owners” next time for a open carry walk.

I will absolutely be returning to @ohiou's campus again, and next time I'll bring an army of gun owners for an open carry walk through campus. You can't keep us away and you can't keep us silent. Just like Donald Trump, we will always win.

— Kaitlin Bennett (@KaitMarieox) February 18, 2020

People hate me because their phones tell them to. They have the emotional temperament of children and act worse than 5 year olds all because they believe everything they see on a screen. It's both really sad and incredible at the same time.

— Kaitlin Bennett (@KaitMarieox) February 18, 2020

Bennett graduated from Kent State University in May 2018 and made national headlines when she posed with a firearm for her graduation photos. She also founded the Liberty Hangout student group at Kent State, and has continued to work as a gun-rights advocate since graduating.

(c)2020 the Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)

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