Professor’s Support for Virginia AG Candidate Raises Eyebrows
A college professor who has been a vocal supporter of Virginia’s attorney general candidate Jay Jones has also been critical of Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA following a tragic incident involving Kirk. Matthew Gabriele, who teaches at Virginia Tech, has used his Blue Sky profile to express discontent with Republicans and advocate against political debate.
In a March post, Gabriele shared a picture with Jones, stating, “It’s an honor to meet Jay Jones, Virginia’s next Attorney General!” He also expressed determination, saying, “Huh, this is it — we’re going to fight. We have defeated fascists before, and we are going to do it again.”
However, Jones has recently faced controversy due to text messages from 2022 in which he outlined violent fantasies about killing a political figure. He made headlines when he stated, “Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler, and Pol Pot,” mentioning a desire to attend funerals and disrespect the deceased, implying violent intentions.
In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination by a leftist extremist, Gabriele accused Kirk’s group of maintaining a “faculty watch list.” Responding to someone who claimed Turning Point USA wasn’t about free speech, he asserted, “Charlie Kirk and his organization are directly responsible for their colleagues going into hiding because of harassment.” Although he mentioned receiving threats, he did not provide specific evidence for his claims.
Gabriele continued to criticize Kirk, labeling him as part of a “harassment machine.” He has also openly opposed political discussions on campus, criticizing fellow academics for engaging with right-leaning figures, suggesting that doing so only legitimizes hate.
In a series of rants, Gabriele has rejected the notion of diversity of political opinion in schools, calling those who are concerned about it “idiots.” He has also expressed his frustration over a lack of action against those he views as perpetuating violence.
When asked about her continued support for Jones, Gabriele did not respond, and Virginia Tech also chose not to comment.
