State Senator Calls College Republicans Nazis Over Opposition to Trans Seminar
by John Gage
(Picture credit Megan Hunt’s Twitter)
Nebraska State Senator Megan Hunt responded to a press release by the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) College Republicans by comparing the group to Nazis. UNK College Republicans sent a press release out on Wednesday opposing a transgender seminar the college had advertised to faculty, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) language and initiatives they said the college was pushing.
The group said the seminar was “contrary to the values of Nebraska, many students, and faculty,” and called on Nebraska and federal officials to investigate the university.
Hunt, who identifies as a Democratic socialist, responded to the press release by calling the group “little Eichmanns,” a reference to Adolf Eichmann, one of the major Nazi organizers of the Holocaust.
The Plains Sentinel reached out to Hunt to ask her to clarify her comments further — in response she said, “Seems clear to me.”
The UNK College Republicans responded to Hunt’s comments saying she was inflaming violence against the group. “We reject these accusations. These inflammatory comments are permission for the left to commit violence against us,” the group said in a statement. “We reject political violence. We hope that Megan apologizes and can display more decorum.”
The group’s statement was follow-up by a statement from the Nebraska Republican Party also demanding that Hunt apologize for her remarks.
“Senator Hunt’s comments were not simply offensive - they were irresponsible. We have seen repeatedly how charged rhetoric from elected officials can contribute to a climate of political violence, most recently at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” NEGOP Chairwoman Mary Jane Truemper said in a statement. “Nebraska’s students deserve representation that respects their right to speak out, not a state senator who responds to dissent with some of history’s most charged comparisons. Senator Hunt should apologize to these students and reflect seriously on the consequences of her words.”
The statement from Hunt comes after Governor Jim Pillen called the same UNK seminar “nonsense” and “destructive to the University of Nebraska’s teaching mission.” Following criticism from Pillen, UNK announced it had “removed” the seminar and said it would be correcting its review process moving forward.
The Plains Sentinel reported Wednesday that UNK administrators were pushing for more “DEI” hires as faculty accused the university of targeting conservatives.
John Gage is the executive editor of The Plains Sentinel.