A man who stood in front of the Robert E. Lee statue in Charlottesville just days after the rally that left one dead claims he has been kicked out of his university as a result of him defending what he calls “American tradition and beliefs.”
Now the subject of viral internet memes, Allen Armentrout went to Charlottesville decked out in a Confederate uniform and holding a Confederate flag to stand in front of the controversial statue of Lee. According to the Daily Progress, as news spread of Armentrout’s appearance, people “rushed” to scream at him.
Video from the Associated Press shows people crowding around Armentrout and screaming, “Terrorist go home!”
Another video shows a woman repeating, “Racists go home.”
Local woman tells Allen Armentrout repeatedly to leave town in confrontation at Emancipation Park. pic.twitter.com/khWpXNkDo1
— Jeff Goldberg (@abc7jeffg) August 15, 2017
Just days after his appearance in Charlottesville, Armentrout told WXII 12 News he was terminated from Pensacola Christian College.
“I have been released from my school and will be unable to return to college to finish my senior year,” Armentrout told WXII 12 News. “I'm processing this and making adjustments to my life to compensate for this scrutiny.”
Armentrout said his removal from Pensacola Christian College particularly hurts him as a Christian.
He explained, “I'm a born-again Christian and I believe this wrench has hindered my attempt to serve the Lord. I believe a Christian institution should support patriotic individuals who want to stand for American tradition and beliefs. It really hurts me a lot when you try to do what's right and you get attacked.”
Pensacola Christian College told the Pensacola News Journal on Friday that although they could not comment on specific matters involving a particular student, the school “recognizes the dignity and value of all people, and we respect the history of America. We encourage individuals to exercise discernment and seek to build reconciliation, especially during a time of mourning like Charlottesville is experiencing.”
Armentrout told the Daily Progress he was not associated with the rally in Charlottesville days before and that he felt like attendees decided to “misappropriate Robert E. Lee and the Confederate flag for their personal agendas.”
“I’m out here to honor my ancestors and honor the men who died under the command of Robert E. Lee, and I think me being out here shows that I hope to accomplish the fact that the world can see that there’s non-racist pro-Confederate people out there that love freedom and independence,” Armentrout continued.
While Armentrout alleges he was kicked out of school simply for his stance in favor of Robert E. Lee's statue, a student at Boston University claims he left after receiving threats for participating in Charlottesville.
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