This event was held in the Beach Auditorium on the campus of Cal State Long Beach. Charlie Kirk is the founder of this group, which now is active on over 1300 college campuses nationwide. Charlie Kirk and Candace Owens are prominent conservative activists that devote their time to promoting Conservative principles with college students. Colleges today are bastions of Liberal Progressive thought, and they see themselves as the counter-balance to the indoctrination imposed upon college students.
The event itself was well attended. Over 700 people had requested tickets, but only 280 seats were in the venue. Needless to say, there was great interest in the event, and many people were disappointed that they could not attend. There were also protesters that shouted at those waiting in line to get in. They had signs promoting Socialism, eliminating Capitalism, and vilifying Conservatism. They hurled invective’s at those attending the event, creating quite a scene! Police were there in force, and there was noise, but violence was not tolerated:
Inside, Charlie Kirk and Candice Owens put on a 45 minute presentation. Their first topic was explaining the left’s “War on Men”. Then there was a conversation about Kanye West, and how the media misrepresents his patriotism, instead painting him as an “Uncle Tom”. The conversation shifted to pointing to the Democrats as a “Party of Division”, expounding on identity politics and its toxic effect on our society.
Some time then was spent on the “Lie of the Switch”. This was identified as the marketing program that Democrats have had for years, espousing that Republicans are racist today, and that the parties actually switched identities from civil war times and that Democrats are now the party that fights to end racism. Countless examples, including the fact that the Democrats founded the KKK, and that the 1964 civil rights acts were passed in congress primarily by Republicans, with stiff Democrat resistance. The case was made that there was no party switch, just a marketing effort to convince minorities to vote Democrat that had nothing to do with reality.
There was a discussion about how the Democrats continually lose in the marketplace of ideas. Right now all they really have is #resist, and that is a loser. They have no ideas that will actually improve society, just resistance to ideas that they have had no participation in creation. They want the past policies and regulations of the Obama Administration back in place, even after there is definitive proof that they were failures.
A discussion on “victim-hood” was presented, with evidence that no one needs to be a victim. The idea that the best entitlement is a job was powerful. That the free market is the best economic justice hit home. Limited government was presented as the best kind of government possible, and that too much centralized power in Washington was detrimental to the health of our nation.
The last topic was on racial diversity. It was graphically pointed out that although the Democrats promote racial diversity as a societal benefit, they have no intention of having that diversity also stray with critical thought. They impose ideological uniformity on their followers, so that it does not matter your color, your religion or lack of one, that you must believe in lockstep exactly what they require in order for you to be in “good standing”. Sort of “mind control”.
The last 45 minutes was set aside for Q&A. Charlie and Candice asked that those that did not agree with the presentation be given the microphone first. This part of the show was disappointing. Those participating in the Q&A did not have any dissent to share with the speakers. Those in disagreement were only those outside protesting the event. No one actually inside engaged the speakers with argument, mostly just thanked them for coming and asked for some clarification on points made in the presentation itself.
It was apparent that the left had no intention of actively participating with this event. They were invited to come in to the venue and debate their positions with the guest speakers. Instead, they waved pre-printed signs and screamed at those in line waiting to get in. They were living proof that the left is losing in the “marketplace of ideas”. They can scream invective’s, but they cannot debate their positions with those that have truth and history on their side. Their protest unintentionally solidified the conservative argument presented by the guest speakers.