Nashville, TN – September 25, 2025 – A surprise visit by the conservative activist group Fearless Debates to Tennessee State University (TSU), a historically Black college and university (HBCU), on September 23 turned a routine campus afternoon into a flashpoint for tensions over free speech, campus safety, and political provocation. The incident, which ended with the group being escorted off grounds by campus police, has ignited national discussions about the boundaries of expression at public institutions.
The Fearless Debates tour, led by activists Cam Higby and David Khait, arrived unannounced around 3 p.m., setting up a table on a public sidewalk near the Walter S. Davis Library. Adorned with “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) hats and signs proclaiming “DEI should be illegal” and “Deport all illegals now! Let’s talk,” the group aimed to spark impromptu debates on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and immigration. Inspired by the late conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated earlier this month at Utah Valley University, the tour seeks to “bring honest conversation and open debate back to America’s college campuses,” according to Higby.
TSU, however, had no prior knowledge of the event. University policy mandates advance approval and permitting for any demonstration or protest to ensure safety and order. “Campus police and staff responded promptly, and the individuals were escorted from university grounds without incident,” read an official statement from TSU, which praised students for conducting themselves “in a professional and respectful manner.” No arrests or injuries were reported, though videos circulating on social media show a growing crowd of students surrounding the activists, chanting “Black Lives Matter,” and booing as they packed up their equipment.
The confrontation escalated quickly. Higby later claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that students “stole our stuff, followed us to our car, attacked the car, shouted ‘BLACK POWER’ and blocked our exit,” describing it as a “student race riot mob.” One video purportedly shows a student wielding a screwdriver during the escort. In response, the group’s official account posted a defiant message: “To the Leftists asking ‘why would you go to an HBCU to have debates?’ Our answer is simple: why wouldn’t we go to an HBCU?” They framed the visit as a test of free speech, noting that public university sidewalks are “traditional public forums” under First Amendment precedents like McCullen v. Coakley (2014), where non-disruptive expression requires no permit.
Critics, however, saw the stunt as deliberate antagonism. The Nashville chapter of the NAACP issued a scathing statement, calling it “an intentional effort to antagonize, disrupt, and instill fear in a space created to be safe, affirming, and supportive of Black students.” The group linked the rhetoric to a “long history of exclusion, racism, and systemic oppression,” especially amid a wave of bomb threats and violence targeting HBCUs following Kirk’s death. TSU President Glenda Baskin Glover echoed this, emphasizing that the university “will not tolerate attempts to undermine the safety or value of our community.” Students like TikTok user Talia Talley captured the scene, with one viral clip showing the crowd’s unified rejection: “They got the ok, they could come and set up… This is an administration problem.”
The episode reflects broader challenges for HBCUs, which have faced a surge in politically charged incursions this year. Free speech advocates argue TSU’s response may constitute viewpoint discrimination, while others contend the unapproved setup justified intervention to prevent chaos. In the aftermath, TSU announced an investigation into how the group accessed the grounds and plans to review permitting processes, security protocols, and event approvals. Higby and Khait, undeterred, vowed to continue the tour across 50 states, keeping future stops secret for “safety concerns.”
As videos of the standoff rack up millions of views, the incident underscores America’s deepening campus divides: Is uninvited debate a bold exercise of rights, or a calculated intrusion on marginalized spaces? For now, TSU reaffirms its commitment to a “safe, welcoming, and orderly environment,” leaving the question of who truly owns the conversation unresolved.
SOURCES:
How a surprise MAGA protest at Tennessee State University sparked a campus response and policy review – The Times of India
Tennessee HBCU removes conservative group after unapproved campus visit
Conservative group explains reason for coming to Tennessee State University
MAGA ‘Fearless Debaters’ group removed from Tennessee State University campus – TheGrio
Conservative ‘Fearless Debate’ group removed from Tennessee HBCU amid student uproar | The College Fix
Tennessee State University: Group with MAGA hats, ‘inflammatory’ signs removed from HBCU
MAGA ‘Fearless Debaters’ Group Removed from Tennessee State University Campus – Free Press of Jacksonville
MAGA debate group at Tennessee State University escorted off campus after chaos erupts
MAGA Activists Messed Around and Found Out While Visiting HBCU, Here’s the Tea
