A gathering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) featuring Department of Homeland Security (DHS) lawyer James Percival was disrupted by left-wing activists and students on Tuesday.
Percival was invited to speak to law students by the UCLA chapter of the Federalist Society, but the event was interrupted when protesters expressed their dissent, as reported.
Footage showed a large assembly outside the venue where chants like “No to ICE, no to the KKK, no to fascist America” echoed through the halls. Students expressed their discontent with boos and laughter as Percival began his talk.
During the incident, one protester displayed a sign that said “Fuck you, losers,” while others shouted remarks including “Nazis.” The Daily Bruin noted that there were around 150 demonstrators present, with about 50 leaving when they learned Percival would only respond to pre-approved questions.
Videos captured students laughing and creating noise throughout the event.
Matthew Weinberg, president of the UCLA Federalist Society, stated that Percival “came to the law school for honest academic discussion but faced personal attacks and continuous interruptions.” He mentioned that many attendees were denied the chance to engage with a federal official, expressing concern for future conservative speakers on college campuses.
Prior to the event, the campus group By Any Means Necessary (BAMN) had rallied others to protest outside, insisting that UCLA should not provide a platform for representatives of the ICE and Trump Administration.
In reflections on the chaos, law professor Jonathan Turley remarked that while it’s completely valid to engage critically with a speaker, the students appeared more intent on silencing Percival than fostering meaningful discussion.
He pointed out that these students seem to find opposing views intolerable, preferring to shout over speakers instead of debating policies in a civil manner. Turley commended Percival and the Federalist Society for courageously confronting such hostility in the pursuit of dialogue on critical issues.
Furthermore, Turley criticized UCLA for its lack of commitment to encouraging diverse viewpoints, suggesting that the university has focused more on activism than on educational breadth.
