Former KKK leader David Duke was invited to participate in last night’s debate for Louisiana’s U.S. Senate seat. The debate was ironically was held on the campus of Dillard University, an historically black college.
Duke was joined by five other contenders to the Senate seat for the televised debate, which was was organized by Raycom Media. The university claims not to have known the participants of the event when they rented their campus hall for the debate, however, the university’s president reportedly still stands behind the decision to host the debate.
Several protesters tried to enter the debate hall, which was closed to the public. Many protesters took to social media, stating they’d been pepper sprayed by authorities. The city is reportedly denying the use of pepper spray on protestors.
Protests at Dillard University over former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke coming to campus for Senate debate #NOLA #Dillard #HBCU @WVLALocal33 pic.twitter.com/vRoBpLxXEO
— Justin Campbell (@IamJCampbell_) November 3, 2016
What the hell is KKK Grand Wizard, David Duke doing at Dillard University, an HBCU in New Orleans? | teleSUR English https://t.co/eb9QYdefAy
— Lamont Lilly (@LamontLilly) November 3, 2016
At the very place where the SCLC was started,students of Dillard University protest the KKKleader David Duke's presence for political debate
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) November 3, 2016
Police began arresting students at the front gate of Dillard University…. pic.twitter.com/HjqxSu1lMC
— GirlNextDoor. (@tminerva_) November 3, 2016
Protester gets taser aimed at him by Dillard University Police as he tries to stop U.S. Senate debate at Dillard University @theadvocateno pic.twitter.com/QWOhNLiLpC
— Matthew Hinton (@MattHintonPhoto) November 3, 2016
BMWK, do you think Dillard should have pulled out of the debate? Or is allowing a known racist to debate on the grounds of an HBCU the essence of inclusion?