WIZM reporter told stop recording during event on how free speech is being taken away

Across campus, another event about media and politics was taking place.

A couple of different views of media access on Thursday night at UW-La Crosse were on display.

One occurred for a WIZM reporter while at a discussion about the threats to free speech on campus and elsewhere.

The event was put on by University of Wisconsin-La Crosse college republicans, Americans for Prosperity and Generation Opportunity.

But when WIZM tried to collect comments from the featured speaker, investigative journalist and radio host Matt Kittle, a woman wearing an Americans for Prosperity jacket demanded the reporter stop recording.

“No,” she said over and over. When asked why the speech couldn’t be recorded, she only said, “Not happening.”

On the other side of campus, a lecture was being held by ABC reporter Mary Bruce on media and politics in the 21st century.

A summary of the Americans for Prosperity event read, “Have you ever felt like you were unable to speak your mind without fear of being silenced? Join Generation Opportunity, Americans for Prosperity, and the UW-La Crosse College Republicans as M.D. Kittle from watchdog.org opens our eyes to how our First Amendment rights are being threatened and what we can do to stop it.”