U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- Austin Tong was an average college kid working on his degree from Fordham University in New York City when, last week, he posted a couple of pictures on Instagram that made him the target of an irrational Internet mob and a scurrilous university investigation. The pictures he posted – which nearly got him kicked out of school – were of a retired police captain who was recently killed by looters, and one of him holding an AR-15.
His posts prompted a hateful reaction from intolerant “keyboard warriors” who despise the police and the Second Amendment. Fordham University officials then opened an investigation and charged him with intimidation, making threats, disorderly conduct, and a hate crime – all for posting a picture of himself with a lawfully purchased and owned firearm and one of a slain police officer. Now he has been banned from campus, asked to write a letter of apology, and told he must complete implicit bias and multicultural sensitivity training in order to graduate with his degree.
Today is the deadline for Austin to make his decision. He plans on saying no. And, if the university wants to kick him out, he says they’re going to have a legal fight on their hands.
Stories similar to Mr. Tong’s are happening all over America. The NRA will stand and fight for every citizen’s rights. Please consider joining or donating today to support Mr. Tong, and the NRA cause.
Here are five quick questions and answers from new NRA member Austin Tong.
You were born in China and immigrated to the United States. How did that happen?
America is the land of opportunity and I think everyone around the world knows that. My parents, who came first, wanted to make a better life for themselves and their family. They knew America was a free country and people come here because of everything the country has to offer. That’s why we moved to New York.
Have you always been interested in firearms?
I’ve always had an interest, mostly thanks to video games, but I never really thought about buying one before. But after recent events I thought it would be a good way to keep me and my family safe.
I’ll admit I wasn’t always a believer, but as time went on, I began to appreciate the rights we have as Americans more and more. And that’s how I got into trouble – because I expressed that appreciation.
What was it like to receive a midnight visit from the Fordham Safety Officers?
Well, I posted the pictures, received the backlash, and a few hours later received a call from the officers saying they were a few minutes away and wanted to talk. I looked out my door and saw them standing outside my home. One came in and one stayed with the car. It was basically about 20 minutes of questions about the firearm, why I posted the pictures, and what I was trying to say.
I’m a good guy, a good person, so while I was a little shook by the visit I knew I’d done nothing wrong. I knew people would probably criticize the post, but I wasn’t expecting the level of backlash, the death threats, the calls for expulsion, or that the entire school would get involved. I was shocked, appalled, and disappointed. But I didn’t do anything wrong and that’s why, if they carry through with their threats, we’re going to sue.
We’ve read about the horrible comments you received, including the death threats, but have all the reactions been negative?
No, not at all. There were a ton of nasty comments after the initial post but once the word really got out, where the NRA really helped a lot, I started hearing from the media, other Instagramers, and people from the firearm community.
That’s why I’m doing this. At first this was my case by now I think of it as the country’s. I don’t know what’s going to happen when I don’t comply with Fordham’s demands. I don’t’ know what’s going to happen to my future but after receiving all those messages from people around the country and around the world – people from all backgrounds and political parties – I knew I had to do more. They were telling me their stories, similar stories, how they were silenced or too scared to share their stories. That should never happen – not here in America.
That’s why I’m doing this. That’s why I’m standing up. When there’s no free speech then America isn’t America anymore. That’s what drives me. It’s empowering what the NRA did, what people across the country have done, and I think we’ll have a great case for protecting free speech.
Did the reaction from Fordham officials surprise you?
It did because the guy who charged me, the dean of students, he knows me. And the safety officers said I wasn’t a threat or being intimidating. They said there’s nothing wrong with me yet they’re still trying to kick me out of school.
I’m shocked and surprised because they know me. They know who I am. And I expected more from this esteemed university.
About NRA-ILA:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org
Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Expression. It seems that the real “Hate” is coming from the accusers.
The real hate in this country always originates with the left, those who are allied against liberty. No surprises here.
agreed, leftists are the ones that use threatening language when you don’t cowtow to their demands. cancel culture at its finest.
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it.”
― George Orwell
“I expected more from this esteemed university.”
This was the poor kids mistake. Expecting a fair shake from a bunch of socialists. They’re never been fair, ever in their history, and they never will be. Evil relies on force and deception. Fairness has no part in their philosophy.
i worked in our school system for almost 7yrs and i saw for myself the leftist agenda!! Teachers at all levels of education in this country are leftist criminals and are brain washing our youth and yet nobody has even brought that up?Our teaches(85%) or so are communist criminals!They should be investigated and charged with a crime~! each and every one of them!!!
I did student teaching in poor public high school in San Francisco. That was 1978. I walked away from that experience as a committed advocate of universal school vouchers. That is the only cure for K-12 education. The cure for higher education is divestment. My two alma matre only get copies of the cancelled checks I send to Hillsdale College and a few others as a reminder that I do not support what is going on at my former schools.
Fordham University officials need to be sued for defamation of character and the dean of students needs to explain how he was able to conjure up the charges against Austin Tong, they charged him with intimidation, making threats, disorderly conduct, and a hate crime.
well we all know the left makes up crap to charge people with to intimidate them and get them doxed and threatened to get them to shut up and go away after the wrongful charges are brought up against the victim of these socialist pigs!If we dont stand up to them at every turn this country is going to see a real 2nd civil war and its not going to be good for the left! Every day due to their actions gun ownership has skyrocketed!When the silent majority has finally woke up totally they all better go find a dark… Read more »
“and that’s why, if they carry through with their threats, we’re going to sue.”
No, you need to sue regardless of their follow through. Mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, extortion, denial of civil rights – the list of wrongs is long. A good attorney can name all the illegal and immoral things this college (and its’ leadership) have done.
Take a look at Nicholas Sandman’s bank account and financial future.
Hit them in the pocket book, that is the only thing they will listen to at this point. Then use that money to help other people like yourself and those that sent you their own stories.
I hope one of the great freedom foundations in this country will provide him with excellent, aggressive representation, and make Fordham pay a LOT of money for this breech of contract and attempt to suppress his first amendment and second amendment rights. Then I hope he uses the money received to help arm legal Chinese immigrants in New York who have been targeted for violence by gangs of thugs whose lives matter (they blame Chinese Americans for the Bat Stew Flu, or so they say, but I think they just like terrorizing Asians.)
Political correctness gone overboard again.
“They knew America was a free country and people come here because of everything the country has to offer. That’s why we moved to New York.”
And by “New York” he meant New York City. Try the rest of the country, lad.
He exercised his First and Second Amendment rights and is being punished for that, they are violating his rights. Do not talk to police, do not let them inside your home unless they have a warrant. If they want to talk, go outside to talk or make an appointment to visit the police or campus station with a lawyer present.
and video record the entire interview process for your safety.
Hey, Where is AZLefty when we really need a leftist to explain this to us?
When you see a libtard digging his own grave, let `em.
Prime example of the left forcing there agenda!
Nice kid and smart.
Says “they know him” not going to make a difference.
Problem is THE AGENDA just turns him into meat for the grinder.
Smart young man he can see what will happen to our freedoms and this country if things keep going the way that has become so common place now days. I am very sorry that this has happened to him maybe he will become the voice that starts the turn around in our country before it is too late get this video out there send to all your friends I have.NEVER OUT OF THE FIGHT
Take them down! Sue them for every penny in their endowments! In addition, require a published apology on and off campus and in the NY Times.
There needs to be indictments fr those making dath threats. University needs to expell those students. All those posting negative comments about Tong need to attend the diversity and anit-hate training pushed onto Tong.
No arguments here except a thought that with some who have done mass shootings have often put stuff on the internet and so LEO probably needs to check it out. So why put yourself at risk for this? But what the university did was of course what Marxist universities do. There is a physics rule I go by, the Law of Cause and Effect. Every action I make will create outcomes. Free speech means we can say anything but sometimes wisdom will intervene in the way, time and place we do it. Sometimes it’s better for me to keep my… Read more »
just to clarify your remark on free speech. free speech is speech that might offend but not threaten violence. if you use threatening words or speech, that might be construed as a crime.
Thanks for the info. I recently found a service at https://essaypapers.reviews/ to help me explore this issue. I hope I will be able to study everything in detail.
I predict that the “drift” will soon become a tsunami! Not long after it breaks 2K…
actually that was representative gomert from texas.
SMH!
Your beginning sentence statement makes NO SENSE. Please explain.