NAACP Issues Warning After MAGA Group Targets HBCU Tennessee State University

The NAACP is sounding the alarm after a group of individuals disrupted the campus of Tennessee State University, a historically Black institution, with inflammatory messages and attempts to provoke students.

According to a statement released Tuesday by Unit 5977-B of the NAACP at TSU, the incident occurred on Sept. 23 around 3 p.m. when a group calling themselves Fearless Debates appeared on campus wearing “Make America Great Again” hats and carrying signs with messages such as “Deport All Illegals Now” and “DEI Should Be Illegal.”

The NAACP said the group attempted to lure students into conversations centered on these messages, framing them as debates but functioning as provocation.

“This incident was not an isolated act of political expression, it was an intentional effort to antagonize, disrupt, and instill fear in a space created to be safe, affirming, and supportive of Black students,” the letter stated.

The Fearless Debates group alleged that TSU students attacked them, stole possessions and threatened them with weapons on a post shared to Instagram.

While the NAACP chapter emphasized that free speech is a constitutional right, it drew a sharp distinction between constructive dialogue and rhetoric “deliberately designed to provoke, demean, and endanger the psychological safety of students at HBCUs.”

The letter warned that the appearance of groups like Fearless Debates on HBCU campuses echoes a long history of exclusion, racism, and systemic oppression. The NAACP called on HBCUs, partner organizations, and Black leadership networks to remain vigilant, share information, and prepare coordinated responses to prevent further disruption.

“HBCUs were founded as sanctuaries of empowerment, education, and freedom, and it is our collective responsibility to preserve that legacy against those who would seek to undermine it,” the statement read.

The NAACP vowed not to remain silent: “We will not allow outside groups to strip away the dignity, safety, and thriving of our students. The time to respond with strength and unity is now.”

Tennessee State University officials said that any demonstration or protest activity on campus requires advance approval and permission. Police and staff responded swiftly to the incident and the individuals were escorted from the campus, according to a release.

“The safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff remain our highest priority at TSU and will continue to ensure that our campus remains a safe, welcoming and orderly environment for all members of our community.”