Political organizations at Clemson are currently clashing in the aftermath of the United States Election Day results on Tuesday.
On Nov. 5, Clemson’s Turning Point USA chapter reposted a picture that digital creator Benny Johnson posted on social media. The background picture was taken from End Wokeness’s Twitter post of the Twin Towers during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, along with the caption, “New York already forgot.”
The post follows Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York City mayoral election. Mamdani won with 1,036,051 total votes (50.4%), according to NBC News, making him the first Muslim mayor-elect of New York City.
A day later, Clemson’s Young Democratic Socialists of America released an official statement on its Instagram claiming that Clemson TPUSA’s repost was “racist and bigoted.”
YDSA said that the post was “absolutely reprehensible, racist, and directly in conflict with the values of Clemson University.” The referenced values are diversity and integrity.
In a statement, Clemson College Democrats recalled a recent event on campus that hosted Nancy Mace, a congresswoman currently running for governor of South Carolina.
According to CCD, both Clemson College Republicans and TPUSA said “horrible things” during the event, including a member complaining about seeing “foreigners in the gym,” and another who complained about “Muslims who will never assimilate to this country.”
“TPUSA has become too comfortable with their xenophobic and racist remarks, and something needs to be done to hold them accountable,” CCD’s statement continued, also noting that they stand with YDSA and call upon the University and CUSG to take action.
John Long, president of YDSA at Clemson, encourages students to speak up when they see hate or discrimination to make the community a better place. He told The Tiger in an interview that students should report any incidents to OCES.
Clemson College Republicans will “always stand” by their “friends at Clemson Turning Point,” according to Jack Lyle, CCR president. The right-wing organization finds YDSA’s “attempt to brand” Clemson TPUSA “as racist and bigoted rather underwhelming.”
Students have responded to the repost on social media, with platforms such as Yik Yak flooded with comments arguing both in favor and against TPUSA.
One post on the Clemson University Yik Yak forum states, “On behalf of the Clemson students we would like for Clemson TPUSA to be investigated for inciting hate and violence in the Clemson community. Based upon the firing of previous staff this should not be an issue,” with 615 upvotes.
Others on social media called for TPUSA to be “banned from campus” and that this behavior is “far too normalized on Clemson’s campus.”
Clemson TPUSA did not respond to The Tiger’s request for comment by publication.
