Charlie Kirk, an outspoken conservative political activist and founder of Turning Point USA, drew a crowd of 500+ students and protesters as part of a leg of his “You’re Being Brainwashed” tour.

Kirk, famous for his virality in debating college students on campus across the country, announced the Penn State chapter of Turning Point USA would host his tour stop earlier this month sparked controversy among groups on campus, including the Student Committee for Defense and Solidarity (SCDS), who petitioned Penn State’s leadership to prevent the event from being held on campus.

In a video posted in September, Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi reiterated her message of the importance of free speech as a public, land-grant institution.

Ahead of Kirk’s presentation to the crowd, protesters with SCDS gathered around 11:30 a.m. to denounce the event and Kirk’s presence on Penn State’s campus.

“It’s OK to have disagreements about policy…but can’t debate people’s basic human rights,” one student told Onward State. “We’re out here showing students of color, trans students, genderqueer students, and students from other countries that we support them. That sort of antisocial bigotry shouldn’t be tolerated here.”

“Right now, we just hope it makes uncomfortable for Charlie over there… We also hope to show Penn State’s administration, the State College community, and the people here that we’re not going to allow this,” the student continued.

Protesters gathered just north of Turning Point USA’s event to echo cheers of “It is right to rebel,” “Dare to struggle,” and “Penn State people, give ’em hell!” onto the crowd gathered below, carrying transgender flags and protest signs with them.

Meanwhile, the crowd around Turning Point USA’s tents set up near the Nursing Sciences Building and the Schreyer Garden began to swell in size in the heat, nearing or surpassing the 1,000-attendee mark, as it drew nearer to the event’s start time.

While students were gathering to see Kirk and hear from members of Penn State’s Turning Point chapter, locals encouraged students to register to vote in State College and passed out forms so they’d be on the voter rolls in Centre County.

Many students argued Kirk had the right to speak at Penn State due to freedom of speech. Other students also shared similar reasons for attending the event, citing Kirk’s virality, particularly in short clips on TikTok, that piqued their interest to attend their first Turning Point USA event.

Kirk eventually arrived on HUB Lawn from the Biobehavioral Health building with an armful of Turning Point USA-branded “Make America Great Again” hats. Student volunteers and event organizers also were handing out the hats to the crowd, until nearly all of the students gathered on HUB Lawn donned the hats chanting “USA!” and others as Kirk made his way to the tent.

Micah Chandler, the president of Penn State’s Turning Point chapter also spoke with Onward State as the key organizer of the event.

“As president, I’m happy we’re able to put on an event with open dialogue,” she said.

“College campuses, just because of the youth of the group, but also how academia has went [sic] is a little more liberal. I think any time you can have an opportunity for a conservative person, not just to speak…but sit down and talk to students…is extremely important,” Chandler continued.

“Having Charlie Kirk do that here in Pennsylvania, a swing state, and at Penn State, the largest university in the state, I think it’s very important,” she said.

Meanwhile, members of Penn State Turning Point USA’s leadership chapter began to speak to welcome Kirk to the event and criticize Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s presidential campaign, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and other government officials. The speakers were then abruptly cut off as the event’s sound system was disconnected, drowning out the event’s speakers from the noise of the crowd gathered to hear Kirk speak.

In a statement from Penn State spokesperson Lisa Powers, the university said, “There was no request made nor did the group follow University policy for having a speaker” and that under Penn State policy AD 51, “requirements that must be followed including the prohibition of the use of sound amplification equipment between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.” and the group was asked to stop using sound amplification due to the policy violation.

Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will headline a Turning Point USA event on Thursday, October 17, at Penn State the organization announced on Thursday.