.jpg)
RFK Jr. faces mixed reception, unruly crowd at major addiction conference
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke at a large meeting of addiction experts, encountering both cheers and repeated protests.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appearance at a major addiction and drug policy conference was marked by repeated interruptions on Thursday, as protesters and jeers forced him to pause and wait for noise to subside at least five times during his 36-minute speech.
A packed and deeply divided audience at the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit, taking place at a conference center on the city’s outskirts, applauded the health secretary as he entered and exited the stage. Kennedy’s speech was more personal than political, touching on his experience with addiction, 12-step recovery, his daily habits, and his views on family and smartphones, among other topics. But his remarks were disrupted numerous times by protesters who attempted to shout him down or carried signs opposing various Kennedy stances.
