A group of conservative students was attacked and their equipment damaged on Thursday when masked demonstrators assaulted them prior to an event at the University of California campus.
Turning Point USA at UC Davis, a registered student organization, was hosting an event titled “prove it wrong” featuring guest speaker Brandon Tatum when protesters vandalized items including camera equipment, tents, event signage, flipped tables, attacked group staff, and addressed Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
“The police stood by and took no action while our members were being assaulted,” he stated. “Our team is understandably upset, yet they are determined not to back down.”
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Protesters aggressively interrupted a conservative student event at the University of California, Davis on Thursday. (Turning Point USA)
In a statement to Fox News Digital, the university mentioned that the event at Memorial Union Quad was interrupted by protesters confronting members from student organizations.
“The UC Davis Police Department has received a report of the assault,” the institution stated. “No one sought medical aid. The event featuring the guest speaker proceeded as scheduled and was concluded without any more incidents. Throughout the event, the university upheld the campus community’s right to free speech.”
A protester at the University of California, Davis. (Turning Point USA)
The student organization invited Tatum, a former police officer known for his widely followed YouTube channel, to speak at 1pm, an hour before the event started, when around 30 individuals approached the tents and tables set up by supporters of the event.
According to the school, one protester assaulted someone at a table using their cell phone. Other demonstrators tore down their tents and clashed with staff present and others nearby. The protesters vacated the area shortly before returning and attempting to dismantle the tent again.
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UC Davis logo featuring a soccer game and a bicycle rider in the background. University of California, Davis. Image taken on February 2, 2015. (Getty Images)
No arrests have been made.
A video from the online show depicts chaos, showcasing a prominent banner displaying “ACAB,” which stands for “all cops are bastards,” as they move towards the event area.
Kirk condemned the university, labeling it “the most militant school in the country.”
“When I spoke there in March 2023, Antifa members vandalized property, shattered windows, and clashed with police,” he noted. “What we see is a disturbing trend with no signs of improvement.”
In reaction to the incident, Elon Musk commented on X, stating, “The left embodies violence and hatred.”
Charlie Kirk is scheduled to speak on the first day of the Republican National Convention (RNC) at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee in July 2024. (Reuters/Mike Segar)
A clip shared by Tatum Online shows protesters seemingly demolishing the TPUSA tent and table.
“This is nearly peaceful,” he mentioned.
Kirk plans to pursue legal action against those who were involved, warning that otherwise “radical anarchists” will depend on “escalating violence if they prevent conservatives from voicing their opinions.”
Brandon Tatum (Photo: Jason Davis/Getty Images)
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He called on UC Davis to demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding freedom of speech and gathering on public campuses.
“If they fail to do so, the Trump administration should investigate the continuous reception of federal funds,” he added.
Fox News Digital is in communication with Turning Point USA.
