Protests Against Turning Point USA Spark Controversy at UC Berkeley
Last month, during the nationwide anti-Trump #NoKings protests, demonstrators in Los Angeles marched down West Temple Street with a banner that declared, “Down with Trump’s fascist takeover. Stop ICE raids and deportations by any means necessary.” Notably, the acronym “BAMN,” which stands for “By Any Means Necessary,” made an appearance, offering a glimpse into the group’s full identity—”The Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration, and Immigrant Rights, and Fight for Equality by Any Means Necessary.”
This organization, one of the 266 entities highlighted by Fox News Digital as participating in the #NoKings protests, plans to show up again this week at the University of California, Berkeley.
On Monday night, the group proudly shared a video on Instagram that showcased its leaders stirring up anger outside a Turning Point USA event. This protest, unfortunately, escalated into a violent confrontation, resulting in several arrests.
A flyer distributed prior to the event urged participants to “stop Fascist Turning Point’s campaign of incitement to violence against young people!” They called for a gathering outside Zellerbach Hall just before the event commenced.
This particular flyer seems like any other activist handout, but there’s more beneath the surface. A QR code printed on it leads to BAMN.com, the domain referenced in their #NoKings banner. From there, people can download protest materials, revealing a deeper connection to the so-called “anti-fascist” movement.
Fox News Digital looked into the metadata of documents associated with BAMN, noting they were created the day before the protests. Both files indicated “ronald.cruz@ueaa.net” as the owner, linking to the United for Equality and Affirmative Action—a nonprofit in Detroit affiliated with BAMN. Their activities range from #NoKings to various demonstrations, including those against Israel following recent attacks.
Ronald Cruz, identified in state bar records as an attorney with the United for Affirmative Action Legal Defense Fund, did not respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, both documents stated they were “owned by the UEAA Legal Defense Fund,” another organization linked to BAMN.
Interestingly, BAMN’s leaders openly mention their connections on their official donation page, encouraging tax-deductible contributions aimed at funding both their legal work and broader organizing efforts. Although its total reported public assistance over five years from 2018 to 2022 was only about $99,348, the implications of their operations are significant.
The events following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk in September have intensified scrutiny on nonprofits allegedly fostering political violence. This situation raises questions about the intersection of tax-exempt statuses, campus unrest, and politically motivated incidents.
The protests at UC Berkeley serve as a stark example of how some groups may exploit nonprofit credibility to engage in disruptive actions, creating a complex and challenging landscape for accountability and transparency.
In a recent Instagram video, BAMN National Organizer Hoku Jeffrey condemned Turning Point USA, urging protesters to express that their campus was not welcoming to certain attendees. His inflammatory comments drew comparisons to historical atrocities, asserting that Trump’s movement wouldn’t escape the same fate.
The United for Affirmative Action Legal Defense Fund maintains that its main goal is to support civil rights and educate the public. Notably, the content on its homepage is dominated by material opposing anti-Semitism and advocating for the Palestinian struggle.
