Kyle Rittenhouse traveled to Kenosha, Wisconsin, for a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020 with an AR-15-style rifle, later claiming he sought to prevent property damage.

Rittenhouse, who was 17 then, killed two protesters and wounded a third. He was acquitted of five charges through claims of self-defense in 2021 and has since spoken at events across the country, advocating for gun rights and conservative policies.

Rittenhouse will speak in Bowling Green on March 27 through a free event sponsored by Western Kentucky University’s Turning Point USA chapter, a nonprofit promoting conservative ideals.

“The Rittenhouse Recap” will take place at Downing Student Union at 7 p.m., though the event is not sponsored by WKU. Any student organization is allowed to utilize the space in DSU so long as they do not run afoul of conduct policies.

“While WKU’s commitment to free speech includes allowing groups to invite guests to campus, that does not mean the university supports, endorses or agrees with the views of those individuals,” WKU Director of Media Relations Jace Lux told the Daily News in a statement.

WKU professor Mark Doggett, who advises the Turning Point USA group, did not immediately respond to a call for comment.

WKU’s National Pan-Hellenic Council chapter released a statement condemning the event, adding the event seeks to “promote hate-filled rhetoric and divisive commentary fueled by bigotry and misinformation.”

“Kyle Rittenhouse’s actions resulted in tragedy, and we refuse to forget that he is a murderer who poses a danger to those seeking truth and justice,” the statement reads. “The decision to invite him to speak on our campus is not only insensitive but also contradicts the values of inclusivity and respect that we uphold.”

A petition posted on Change.org by an individual under the name “Concerned Student” calls to disband WKU’s Turning Point USA chapter and as of Thursday afternoon had just under 2,500 signatures.

“As a student in Western Kentucky, I have always believed that our campus should be a haven of safety and security for all,” the petition read. “However, the presence of the Turning Point USA student organization has increasingly made our campus feel unsafe.”

Rittenhouse spoke at East Tennessee State University on Feb. 8 and will be at the University of Memphis on March 20.

FOX 17 of Nashville reported that Rittenhouse gave his account of what occurred in Kenosha amid protests from students and community members when speaking at ETSU.

“They put me on trial for defending myself and sometimes I think, ‘What would have happened if they killed me? Would they have prosecuted the people who killed me if I died?’ And I don’t think they would have,” Rittenhouse said, according to FOX 17.

The outlet also reported that Rittenhouse was questioned about what made him qualified to speak on gun rights.

“Well, I’m actually a political consultant on Texas gun rights. I’m a writer for them and I have written articles and I researched gun laws recently,” Rittenhouse said.