Story By: Brayden George

MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The “Prove me Wrong” event with speaker Kenneth Bryan Dawson of 1819 News, hosted by the University of Montevallo’s Turning Point USA chapter, remained peaceful after initially being rescheduled to address safety concerns.

At least a hundred students came and went during the event on Farmer Patio, which ran from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon. Some engaging with Dawson, many others just observing from the crowd.

Dawson spoke for the full two hours, sharing his story, answering questions and engaging in mild debate with students and local citizens.

“It’s my hope that they heard something that helped them,” Dawson said about the students that attended the event. “That challenged them, that made them think more deeply about something, or that motivated them to pick up a Bible or go to church.”

The event remained peaceful, and while a few students did gather at Becoming, also known as the hands statue, there was no organized walkout or demonstrations in response to the event. Most who disagreed with the event spread one message throughout campus, “do not engage.”

“I’m just proud to see that our students were safe today and the ones that were interested in hearing the speaker had an opportunity to.”
– Wesley Hallman, UM Executive Director of Marketing and Communications

Security was prepared and out in full force as UMPD was assisted by multiple other agencies, including:

  • Montevallo Police Department
  • Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
  • Alabaster Police Department
  • Helena Police Department
  • Bryan Dawson’s security team
  • Montevallo Fire Department

The agencies utilized all forms of equipment such as a drone, multiple all-terrain vehicles as well as stationing officers on the roof of Humanities Hall.

UM Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Wesley Hallman said with events like this, it can be difficult to balance protecting students freedom of expression and safety.

“It can be challenging because you’re trying to make sure you’re accommodating both to the fullest extent,” he said. “I’m just proud to see that our students were safe today and the ones that were interested in hearing the speaker had an opportunity to.”

Dawson echoed Hallman’s praise for the University’s handling of the event, even issuing an apology to the University for his initial response to the rescheduling of the event.

“It was my impression that they cancelled because of pressure from the students,” he said. “But, now that I’ve been here and they’ve treated me so well, and put on one of the most incredible displays of security. I’m convinced that they actually canceled the event because they wanted to be able to make sure that I was safe, and they’ve displayed that through what they’ve done for me today. So, I’m very grateful for Montevallo. I apologize that I reacted the way that I did against them publicly, because I thought they canceled for student pressure.”

UM’s Turning Point chapter leadership said they were “thrilled” and “very pleased” with the way the event turned out.

“We’re thankful that the students on campus have trusted us enough to come out, even if they disagree,” Vice President of UM’s TPUSA chapter Clay Callahan said. “We just want to have good dialogue between people.”

In regards to future on-campus events, Callahan said, “There is no doubt we’re going to have more speakers, we’re going to have big name speakers, and we’re excited to see the Turning Point USA chapter here grow.”