Nationwide — Blexit, the conservative group founded by Candace Owens, was escorted off Hampton University’s campus after attempting to host an event that the school said was not approved. University officials stated the group failed to follow the required procedures for vendors and campus events.
Blexit, which is affiliated with Turning Point USA, has been touring historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) through its “Educate to Liberate” campaign. The group said the tour aims to “bring conservative values to life” and encourage “critical thinking” among students, according to Blavity.
Blexit’s website states that the tour was planned to coincide with homecoming season at several HBCUs to “challenge the status quo and champion empowerment, personal responsibility, and the American Dream.” The group previously held an event at Howard University and postponed a scheduled visit to Florida A&M University.
At Hampton, university officials said the group did not obtain authorization to hold its event. They explained that Blexit failed to complete the required vendor application and pay the associated homecoming fees. The school said all unapproved vendors were notified in advance that they would be escorted off campus if they attended the festivities.
Craig Long, a member of Blexit, claimed on Instagram that the university shut them down for political reasons. “Instead of celebrating open discussion, the university shut it down — claiming we ‘didn’t go through the proper channels,’” he wrote. “Let’s be honest: this wasn’t about paperwork. It was about politics.”
Hampton dismissed those claims, saying the issue was procedural and related to safety, not censorship. “This was not a matter of suppression,” the university said in a statement. “Hampton University is a private institution with clearly established processes for campus access, vendor participation, and media activity.”
The school also noted that homecoming typically draws nearly 15,000 attendees, making it essential to monitor who is on campus. “Blexit failed to meet those standards,” Hampton said. The university added that it welcomes different viewpoints as long as participants follow established rules and safety protocols.